THE 


PROGRESS  OF  FREEDOM; 


. 

-AND 


OTHER    POEMS, 


BARNARD    SHIPP. 


NEW    YORK: 
ADRIANCE,    SHERMAN    &    CO. 

No.    2    ASTOR    HOUSE. 
1852. 


R.  CRAIGHEAD,  PRINTER, 

68  Vetey  ttrcet,  New  York. 


&2£ 


KEM  AEKS. 


IIT  the  arrangement  of  the  following  poems  those  relating  to 
each  other  have  been  placed  in  the  regular  order  of  their 
connexion.  The  notes  annexed  are  but  quotations  from 
standard  authors,  embodied  in  that  form.  The  allusions  to 
Lexington  have  reference  to  Lexington,  Fayette  County, 
Kentucky.;  and  those  to  the  "  Meadows"  refer  to  a  villa  in  the 
vicinity  of  Lexington. 

New  York,  May  10th,  1852. 

f\  i 


M191906 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

THE  PROGRESS  OF  FREEDOM  *           »                                 9 

Reflections  on  the  Year  1848  -  49 

Col.  William  Robertson  McKee  -                                    -       55 

Reinterment  of  Napoleon        -  57 

Liberty  and  France,         -  -            -            -                    59 

Appeal  of  Hungary    -  61 

Battle  of  Rotherthum       -  65 

Defenders  of  Conaorn  -  -                                      68 

Magyar's  Hope      -  -       70 

To  John  S.  Hart,  Esq.  -  73 

Elegy        -  76 

The  Message    -  81 

God's  Wisdom       -  •            -       86 

Happiness       -  -             87 

My  Home              -  -       90 

To  Miss  Clay  -  -             92 
Nannette  -             ......94 


VI  CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


On  Revisiting  Lexington  -                                     -96 

Musings  by  the  Sea  -       98 

Musings  by  the  Road  -  100 

I  will  Remember  Thee      -  -      102 

Oh!  then  Remember  Me  -                                                104 

To  Mrs,  L****  P***  -     106 

The  First  Woman        -  108 

The  Deceived        »  -      110 

The  Wounded  Soul     --  112 

To  a  Coquette       -  -     114 

To  the  Beauty  of  a  Dream  -                                                117 

The  Soul    -  -     119 

To 120 

Forget  Thee?        -  -      121 

To  Miss  H.  E.  S.  of  Boston,  -                                                122 

The  Garden  -      124 

To  a  Bird        -  127 

To  Miss  L.  V.  W.  of  Philadelphia  -     130 

Farewell  132 

The  Change  -     134 

The  Answer     -  137 

Perished  Hope  139 

To  Sue  141 

The  Star  of  Love  -                                     -      143 

To  Stella  -                                                 145 

Stella 146 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


Farewell  to  Stella        -  .            148 

Beauty,  Love,  and  Fame  -                                     -            -      150 

Heaven  and  Earth       -  -            '            -            152 

To  Miss  Edmonia  Field  -            -            .            .            -      154 

To  Miss  Jenny  Lind     -  -             -             -            156 

Fame        -  -      158 

The  Reply       -  160 

My  Dream  .      153 

To  Stella  -            .            .            „           1^5 

Reply  to  "  Absence "  -            -     168 

To  Mra  L****P***  „            ,            .           .           IYO 

The  Explanation  -  -            -            ,            r            -172 

The  Confession  -            .            .           174. 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  FREEDOM. 

fart  jFirst. 


'  Who  first  taught  souls  enslaved,  and  realms  undone, 
The  enormous  faith  of  many  made  for  one ; 
That  proud  exception  to  all  Nature's  laws, 
To  invert  the  world  and  counterwork  its  cause? 
Force  first  made  conquest,  and  that  conquest  law, 
Till  superstition  taught  the  tyrant  awe ; 
Then  shared  the  tyranny,  then  lent  it  aid, 
And  gods  of  conquerors,  slaves  of  subjects  made." 

POPE. 


SINCE  different  sights  to  different  men  belong, 
As  some  are  weak,  and  others  very  strong ; 
So  each  in  life  should  proper  distance  take, 
To  view  his  object,  and  his  comment  make. 
How  smooth  some  objects  to  the  sight  appear 
When  seen  at  distance,  but  how  changed  when  near ; 
While  nearer  objects  of  gigantic  size 
Need  aid  of  distance  when  they  please  the  eyes  ; 
And  things  minute  inspection  close  require, 
From  those  who  searching  would  the  truth  desire. 
Some  vile  low  thing  in  human  shape, 
That  self-conceited  would  the  statesman  ape, 
Some  wealthy  rogue  who  would  most  honest  seernr 
1 


10      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

Whom  weak-eyed  men  would  philanthropic  deem, 

.And  those  sweet  saints  that  swindle  half  mankind 

Of  both  their  money  and  their  silly  mind  ; 

All  these  require  inspection  very  close, 

A  weak-eyed  man  might  touch  them  with  his  nose, 

And  then  not  see  beneath  the  surface  fair, 

The  vile  corruption  that  is  hidden  there. 

But,  thanks  to  heaven,  in  our  great  distress 

We  have  more  senses  than  the  brutes  possess, 

For  when  so  credulous  we  cannot  see 

Why  feeling  comes  and  sets  our  vision  free. 

Full  many  a  fool  who  firm  in  faith  relied 

Had  lived  deluded,  and  a  dotard  died ; 

But  that  one  sense,  the  sense  of  sordid  gain, 

Restored  his  vision,  and  disclosed  his  pain. 

The  golden  medium  who  in  life  can  take, 

And  due  allowance  for  poor  mortals  make? 

Since  none  are  perfect,  who  approaches  near  ? 

Who  can  be  called  both  wise  and  honest  here  ? 

'Tis  hard  to  tell,  where  all  by  contrast  judge, 

And  one  is  little,  as  the  other  huge. 

In  ancient  times  when  earth  was  little  known, 
Mankind  was  governed  by  one  prince  alone ; 
To  rule  the  world  would  sound  now  very  great, 
But  then  the  world  was  but  a  single  state. 
E'en  now  the  Russian  rules  a  country  vast 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.      11 

As  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  ancient  past ; 

And  e'en  our  country  with  its  oceans'  bound, 

Is  greater  far  than  e'er  the  Grecian  found. 

Greece  once  was  great,  Phoenicia  too, 

But  these  have  dwindled  to  the  human  view ; 

And  rivers  too,  whose  fountains,,  like  the  pole, 

Were  never  witnessed  by  a  human  soul  ; 

Whose  floods  were  subjects  for  the  sage  debate, 

And  strange  conjectures  of  the  ancient  great ; 

Mere  streamlets,  now,  compared  with  ours  would  be, 

Or  as  our  lakes  unto  their  midland  sea. 

And  their  large  lakes  we  scarce  a  lake  would  call, 

Not  e'en  their  seas,  they  were  so  very  small. 

Who  has  not  read  how  on  the  billows  tossed, 

When  hope  had  fled,  and  faith  itself  was  lost, 

The  mighty  ship  upon  the  raging  sea, 

Was  near  engulphed  in  gloomy  Galilee, 

The  Saviour  waked  to  still  the  angry  wave, 

And  save  his  followers  from  a  watery  grave  ? 

Yet  Borgne's  far  greater  than  that  ancient  sea, 

E'en  Maurapas,  than  raging  Galilee  I1 

And  chieftains  too  in  ancient  times  we  find, 

Unlike  our  moderns,  were  a  different  kind  ; 

Each  in  his  sphere  moves  as  a  monarch  great, 

Though  but  the  ruler  of  a  petty  State ; 

Or,  less  than  this,  a  single  pirate  town, 


12      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

To  wield  a  sceptre,  and  to  wear  a  crown. 

These  were  transmitted  down  the  godlike  line, 

And  held  by  subjects  sacred  and  divine. 

Such  were  the  charms  that  these  regalia  had, 

That  kings  would  furious  turn,  and  raving  mad 

Sack  cities,  kingdoms  ;  ravage  half  the  earth, 

To  prove  themselves  of  an  illustrious  birth. 

Poor  fools !  who  were  begot,  and  born,  and  died 

As  other  mortals  of  inferior  pride. 

Yet  weak  mankind,  priest-ridden  and  oppressed, 

Claimed  but  a  king,  to  own  that  they  were  blest ; 

Believing  all  that  priestly  art  could  bring, 

To  prove  from  heaven  descended  down  their  king  ; 

Begot  by  Mars,  of  some  pure  virgin  born, 

By  monsters  suckled,  till  from  monsters  torn  ; 

Or  far  in  wilds  with  heavenly  manna  fed, 

Or  loaves  and  fishes  showered  on  his  head ! 

Such  was  their  faith  that  they  could  well  believe 

All  that  could  flatter,  wheedle,  or  deceive ; 

For  moral  darkness  and  a  mental  night 

Concealed  the  world,  and  hid  the  human  sight, 

Save  those  who  peered  in  nature's  devious  way, 

And  found  the  pathway  to  immortal  day. 

These  gazing  down  from  their  aerial  height, 

Assumed  their  native  and  inali.n  right; 

Colleagued  with  kings,  and  bowed  the  human  mind, 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.      13 

In  base  subjection  to  the  priestly  kind ; 
E'en  sovereigns  forced  with  superstitious  awe, 
To  own  their  empire  and  obey  their  law. 
Thus  crown  and  crosier  joined  in  union  rose, 
To  reason,  justice,  and  to  science  foes, 
Could  men  but  reason,  then  would  justice  be ; 
Could  justice  triumph,  then  would  all  be  free, 
And  mind  unfettered  would  assume  its  right, 
Hurl  tyrants,  priests,  and  princes  from  their  height ; 
Rear  up  the  fabric  of  fair  science  high, 
And  teach  mankind  triumphant  how  to  die  ; 
Not  with  hell's  horrors  roaring  in  their  ears, 
Appalled,  poor  things,  by  superstitious  fears, 
But  with  bright  hope,  companion  of  their  way, 
Through  death's  dark  shadows,  to  eternal  day, 
To  peace,  and  bliss,  and  faithful  friends  restored, 
They  living  cherished,  and  in  death  deplored. 
For  did  not  fear  unnerve  the  subject's  arm, 
A  tyrant's  life  would  bear  no  mystic  charm ; 
And  freedom's  sword,  unsheathed  for  human  right, 
Would  strike  for  vengeance,  and  defy  his  might. 
So  priestcraft  reasoned  in  her  tyrant's  cause, 
Outraging  nature,  and  all  nature's  laws. 

Then  subjects  taught  to  one  pursuit  were  bound, 
These  skilled  in  arts,  and  those  to  till  the  ground  ; 


14      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM* 

And  there  confined,  and  ne'er  allowed  to  range 
All  things  beyond  were  wonderful  and  strange. 
To  one  pursuit  and  narrow  spot  confined, 
Was  bound  the  body,  and  restrained  the  mind.2 
And  even  there  lest  contemplation  too 
Should  light  the  spirit,  and  expand  the  view, 
Tyrannic  skill  essayed  by  every  art, 
Where  cunning  priestcraft  shared  an  equal  part 
With  souls  inhuman,  from  the  laboring  hand, 
To  extort  the  products  of  the  cultured  land, 
And  bow  the  industrious  with  incessant  toil, 
To  share  the  profits  and  increase  the  spoil ; 
Thus  tax  on  tax  on  various  pretext  rose, 
From  life's  sad  dawning  to  its  early  close  ; 
And  men,  as  brutes,  for  self-selected  few 
Increased  for  labor,  and  in  bondage  grew. 
'Tis  true  processions,  royal  feasts  were  seen, 
And  shows  and  revels,  with  their  rites  obscene, 
And  noise  and  frolic  spoke  the  public  glee, 
As  though  mankind  had  known  no  misery  ; 
While  fettered  man,  amid  the  scene  of  mirth, 
Deemed  kings  of  heaven,  and  himself  of  earth ; 
And  crouched  adoring  to  the  royal  show 
Upheld  by  terror,  and  by  human  woe ; 
And  deemed  himself  most  happy  thus  to  see 
The  royal  pageant  and  divinity 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.      15 

Whose  very  touch  such  sanity  possessed, 

The  sick  who  felt  it  were  revived  and  blessed ; 

The  blind  beheld  ;  the  feeble  were  restored  ; 

The  people  wondered,  trembled,  and  adored. 

So.  sacred  were  these  regal  things  beheld 

That  foes  would  shun  them  on  the  battle  field ; 

Nor  dare  to  rear  their  reeking  blade  on  high 

Against  the  life  of  royal  majesty  ; 

And  o'er  their  tombs,  as  though  the  sainted  dead 

On  bleating  flocks  or  lowing  oxen  fed, 

Whole  hecatombs,  with  human  blood  the  price, 

Were  offered  up  a  holy  sacrifice  ! 

And  man  deluded,  blind  to  bad  and  good, 

The  dear-bought  products  of  his  tears  and  blood, 

Approved  the  princes  and  the  royal  priest, 

Their  generous  bounty  and  the  joyous  feast, 

A  stinted  largess  from  a  hoarded  store, 

By  avarice  tortured  from  the  struggling  poor  ! 

So  waxed  the  priesthood  and  anointed  few  ; 
So  toiled  the  people,  and  their  labors  grew. 
Time  came  and  went,  and  mighty  cities  rose  ; 
The  favored  few  grew  languid  with  repose ; 
Up  rose  the  temple,  up  the  embattled  wall,  4 
The  Ox-god  grew,  and  fattened  in  his  stall.3 
And  all  that  faith  of  human  mind  could  swill, 


16      THE   1'KOGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

Was  drained  ;;t  length  from  superstition's  still ; 

Birds,  fish,  and  brutes  grew  gods ;  dogs,  cats,  and  cranes, 

The  pious  objects  of  the  people's  pains.4 

And  fabrics  vast  as  human  skill  could  make, 

Eeceived  these  godlings  from  the  wood  and  lake  ; 

And  priests  ordained  with  stipend  vast  to  keep, 

These  gods  alive,  and  all  mankind  asleep,5 

Still  plied  their  craft,  and  racked  the  ingenious  brain, 

To  increase  their  power,  and  extend  their  reign. 

Time  came  and  went,  and  ages  passed  away, 

No  light  e'er  dawned  to  tell  the  coming  day. 

And  man  in  darkness  labored,  lived,  and  died, 

Till  untold  millions  swelled  the  human  tide ; 

And  every  spot  whereon  a  footstep  trod 

Became  the  tomb  of  some  departed  god, 

And  earth  above,  and  earth  beneath  was  stored, 

With  those  who  cats  and  crocodiles  adored.6 

Alas  for  human  faith,  and  bigot  zeal, 

That  can  our  conscience  and  our  nature  steel ; 

Pervert  the  mind,  and  make  mankind  the  fool 

For  every  tyrant,  or  a  tyrant's  tool. 

In  that  dark  age  when  robed  in  rayless  night, 

Man  mole-like  moved  divested  of  his  sight, 

And  grovelling  lived  appendage  to  the  soil, 

A  beast  in  mind,  a  brute  unto  his  toil. 

Had  reason  spoke,  she  had  been  heeded  not, 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.     17 

The  culprit's  fate  had  been  her  certain  lot. 

0  ye  of  biassed  judgment  and  contracted  soul, 
Who'd  bound  man's  triumph  by  your  narrow  goal, 
Who  fixed  in  faith,  and  with  conviction  bold, 
Would  make  your  creed  Procrustes'  bed  of  old.7 
Gaze  on  the  past,  expand  your  narrow  mind, 
To  embrace  the  knowledge  of  all  human  kind  ; 
See  nations  rise,  stupendous  fabrics  fall, 
Faiths  fade  to  night,  and  error  shrouding  all ; 
Man's  mind  ascend  to  learning's  loftiest  height, 
In  arts  excel,  and  glory  in  its  might, 
Yet  bound  alas  by  that  enthralling  chain 
That  checked  its  triumph  and  confined  its  reign  ; 
The  tyrant  FAITH  that  shackled  all  mankind, 
And  stayed  the  progress  of  the  immortal  mind. 
Who  doubted  this,  or  e'en  the  subject  broached, 
Alas,  the  wretch  on  priestly  rights  encroached  ; 
His  fate  was  sealed  ;  the  offended  gods  to  please 
That  man  must  die  like  martyred  Socrates. 

From  that  far  time  hid  in  remotest  night,8 
Where  not  one  ray  sheds  e'en  its  faintest  light, 
Where  darkness  settles  like  a  funeral  pall, 
O'er  all  of  earth  that  man  might  human  call ; 
Concealed  by  clouds  that  over  chaos  hung, 
That  monster  tyrant  into  being  sprung. 
From  that  far  time,  until  historic  light. 
1*. 


18  THE      PROGRESS      OF      FREEDOM. 

It  ruled  mankind  regardless  of  his  right ; 

Age  after  age  it  held  its  ruthless  sway, 

And  forced  the  world  its  precepts  to  obey. 

Its  fanes  arose  far  in  the  forest  shade, 

Where  beasts  as  savage  as  itself  had  strayed  ; 

E'en  in  the  desert,  with  ingenious  guile, 

Like  magic  sprung  from  some  oasis  isle 

Its  towering  temple  and  mysterious  rite, 

By  wide  wastes  guarded  from  the  vulgar  sight. 

Where  mankind  lived,  if  but  a  single  tribe, 

It  reared  its  altars  and  received  its  bribe. 

Oracles  arose  that,  with  prophetic  power, 

Foretold  the  event  of  any  future  hour  ; 

Where  princes  poured  the  treasures  of  their  state, 

To  learn  from  priests  their  fortunes  and  their  fate, 

And  these  vile  engines  plied  their  mystic  art, 

And  played  in  states  a  most  conspicuous  part ; 

Swayed  councils,  kingdoms,  armies  with  their  word, 

The  mightiest  monarch,  and  the  vilest  herd.9 

Ambiguous  prophecies  they  freely  sold, 

And  governed  nations  by  their  wit  and  gold. 

Mankind  increased,  and  potent  kingdoms  rose, 
That  long  had  been  triumphant  o'er  their  foes  ; 
But  human  passion,  roused  by  wrong  or  right, 
Or  fierce  ambition,  towered  to  its  height  ; 
And  sects  and   factions  with  aspiring  great 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.      19 

Colleagued  in  secret  to  control  the  state ; 

Malignant  envy  with  ingenious  art, 

By  subtile  craft  was  sown  in  every  heart ; 

And  discontent  and  sullen  hate  arose, 

That  rulers  vainly  struggled  to  oppose. 

Tribe  against  tribe,  and  sect  'gainst  sect  arrayed, 

Ne'er  mercy  spared,  or  vengeance'  wrath  was  stayed  ; 

Towns,  cities,  kingdoms,  with  vindictive  rage 

In  civil  discord's  deadly  feuds  engaged. 

The  monsters  grow  domestic  faction  bred, 

And  vice  triumphant  rears  her  hydra  head  ; 

Till  war  to  conquest  turns  their  demon  wrath, 

And  strews  the  spoils  of  empires  in  their  path. 

Thus  nations  fell,  and  nations  new  arose, 

While  earth  exhausted  sank  into  repose  ; 

And  ciyming  craft  with  secret  power  again, 

Reared  up  new  fabrics,  and  resumed  its  reign. 

So  ages  passed  till  superstition  grew, 

With  rites  absurd,  so  gross  unto  the  view, 

That  man  familiar  heeded  not  the  show 

That  claimed  his  faith  for  what  he  could  not  know. 

Earth,  sea,  and  air ;  each  grotto,  grove,  and  glen, 

Were  filled  with  gods,  as  though  with  living  men, 

And  oracles  increased  in  wealth  and  fame, 

To  whose  dark  shrine  deluded  mortals  came ; 

And  wondered  greatly  how  prophetic  power 


20      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM, 

Could  tell  the  event  of  any  future  hour. 

Believed  all  stones  of  their  wondrous  skill, 

Believed  them  all,  and  craved  for  wonders  still ; 

Until  credulous  superstition's  creed 

Deemed  priests  divine  terrestrial  gods  indeed. 

By  cunning  concert  oft  the  truth  they  told, 

The  truth  once  told  responses  rapid  sold  ; 

For,  faith  once  gained,  who  dared  their  power  deny 

As  well  might  doubt  the  planets  in  the  sky ; 

For  had  not  Kings,  the  rulers  of  the  state, 

Themselves  attested  to  their  powers  o'er  fate  ? 

It  mattered  not  that  prophecies  were  sold, 

That  oracles  grew  rich  with  gifts  and  gold  ; 

That  wealth  unbounded  aided  all  their  art, 

To  blind  the  spirit  and  corrupt  the  heart. 

One  truth  foretold  was  famed  in  every  land, 

One  failure  made  was  smothered  at  command  ; 

Thus  grew  their  faith,  and  thus  their  fame  was  spread, 

And  such  their  power  that  kings  themselves  might  dread. 

But  these  vile  engines  multiplied  at  length, 

Increased  in  number,  but  decreased  in  strength, 

And  each  its  rival  struggling  to  excel 

Dissolved  at  length  the  superstitious  spell. 

Each  failure  now  foes  leagued  by  selfish  aim 

Spread  far  and  wide,  unto  their  rival's  shame  ; 

And  competition  with  invidious  art 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.     21 

Began  to  act  the  vile  detractor's  part. 

Thus  undermined  by  every  rival  foe, 

And  stripped  at  length  of  all  imposing  show  ; 

Thus  grown  too  cheap,  too  cheap  for  kingly  power, 

They  grew  the  pastime  of  an  idle  hour. 

The  hoarded  wealth  that  fraud  incessant  stored, 

Became  a  tribute  to  the  conqueror's  sword  ; 

And  stately  fanes  upreared  by  slavish  toil, 

Adorned  through  years  with  many  a  glittering  spoil, 

Became  a  prey  to  some  ambitious  chief, 

Some  wholesale  robber  or  insidious  thief. 

Thus  cheated  man,  with  faiths  familiar  grown, 

Believed  his  judgment,  and  conformed  to  none  ; 

Gazed  out  at  length  as  from  a  gloomy  cell, 

And  saw  the  force  of  superstition's  spell ; 

Himself  immured  as  in  a  prison  wall, 

By  kingly  power  and  by  priestly  thrall. 

Oh !  ye  more  blest  by  freedom's  present  dawn 
Can  backward  gaze  upon  oppression  gone  ; 
And  see  the  cord  that  blinded  mortals  bound 
To  build  huge  temples  and  to  till  the  ground  : 
Well  may  ye  wonder  that  so  weak  a  thread 
Wove  with  the  spell  of  superstitious  dre"ad, 
Should  bind  the  world,  and  hold  all  human  kind 
In  abject  slavery  to  a  tyrant's  mind. 
But  e'en  an  infant  can  the  blind  command, 


22      THE   PROGRESS -OF   FREEDOM. 

And  guide  their  powers  with  its  feeble  hand ; 

Thus  man  immortal,  robbed  of  mental  sight, 

Became  as  blinded  to  .external  light ; 

Or  only  saw  but  by  oppression's  aid, 

That  loaned  its  power  to  increase  its  shade. 

All  outward  nature  was  as  blooming  then, 

And  power  to  judge  it  in  the  minds  of  men, 

Concealed  'tis  true,  but  still  the  power  was  there, 

As  vivid  lightning  in  the  lambent  air. 

Power  that,  waked,  had  roused  the  slumbering  earth, 

And  given  freedom  an  immortal  birth  ; 

Flashed  o'er  the  world,  and  lit  to  conscious  might, 

The  strength  of  reason  to  maintain  her  right. 

O  God  !  what  heart  but  doth  indignant  burn, 

To  view  the  past,  then  to  the  present  turn, 

And  see  the  length  of  that  unbroken  chain 

That  binus  mankind  to  superstition's  reign, 

And  makes  of  more  than  half  the  human  race 

The  dupes  of  tyrants  to  their  own  disgrace  ! 

In  that  dark  age  Promethean  fire  was  given 

To  light  the  spirit  to  its  native  heaven ; 

And  lead  the  mind  from  superstitious  sway 

To  truth,  to  knowledge,  and  eternal  day ; 

But  darkness  dense,  like  a  funereal  pall, 

Hid  mental  vision,  and  enveloped  all. 

And  that  bright  light,  more  bright  by  darkness  round, 


THE   PROGRESS   OF,  FREEDOM.      23 

From  all  the  world  no  like  reflection  found ; 

For  minds  so  rude  had  polish  to  receive, 

To  shed  the  radiance  that  its  rays  could  give, 

And  those  first  beams  of  the  immortal  mind, 

Were  doomed  to  fade  and  leave  no  fruits  behind : 

Though  Justice  firm  in  bold  defiance  hurled 

Her  shafts  unerring  'gainst  the  opposing  world  ; 

And  Bigot  Faith  with  rage  vindictive  saw 

Her  rights  invaded  and  her  futile  law, 

When  man  as  man  would  free-born  dare  to  stand, 

And  rear  his  reason  'gainst  her  vile  command. 

That  reason  God  in  righteous  mercy  gave 

To  crush  the  tyrant  and  his  subtle  slave ; 

And  raise  mankind  as  man  should  ever  be  : 

By  virtue  guided  and  in  spirit  free  5 

The  master-piece  of  God,  transcendent  here, 

The  sovereign  lord  of  this  terraqueous  sphere. 

Time  came  and  went,  man's  struggling  powers  grew ; 

New  objects  rose  unto  his  mental  view. 

Peering  in  the  past,  he  saw  strange  phantoms  gone ; 

Oppressed  mankind  with  burdens  tottering  on, 

Progressing  still  unto  the  distant  bourne, 

Though  all  unconscious  of  the  coming  morn  ; 

The  rise,  the  progress,  and  the  fall  of  kings, 

The  change  of  creeds,  and  all  deemed  holy  things ; 

How  man's  condition  suited  to  the  reign, 


24      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

The  reign  tyrannic  to  the  stupid  swain ; 
How  these  subservient  to  each  other  grew, 
Each  changeH  to  suit  aught  of  the  other  new ; 
Man's  strength  increase,  and  tyrants  yield  the  sway, 
Tyrants  superior  force  him  to  obey ; 
Encroachments  thus  through  years  alternate  grow, 
And  ills  and  blessings  from  each  triumph  flow ; 
Till  each  from  other  mutual  respite  sought 
As  time  new  changes  into  being  brought. 
Saw  faiths  conform  to  man's  advancing  mind,  * 
And  creeds  once  sacred  now  no  longer  bind ; 
E'en  things  once  gods,  no  longer  gods  esteemed  ; 
What  was  divine  as  sacrilegious  deemed. 
And  all  things  sacred  and  profane  he  saw ; 
All  creeds,  and  faiths,  and  politics,  and  law ; 
And  throughout  all  beheld  the  human  soul, 
The  guiding  power  that  controlled  the  whole. 
Thus  mind  arose  o'er  brutal  force  supreme, 
The  past  became  the  phantom  of  a  dream ; 
Where  brutal  sense  did  for  its  faith  require, 
S^me  brutal  object  of  its  base  desire. 
And  Wisdom  saw  with  his  prophetic  view ; 
Things  past  as  old,  and  things  to  come  as  new, 
Two  worlds  complete  unto  his  vision  rise, 
One  of  the  earth,  the  other  of  the  skies ; 
The  soul,  the  body — man's  mysterious  frame, 


THE      PROGRESS      OF      FREEDOM.  25 

Conjoining  both — his  glory  and  his  shame ; 
One  down  to  earth,  with  its  seductive  sway, 
Draw  man  a  brute  its  power  to  obey ; 
One  up  to  heaven,  with  its  celestial  fire, 
Attract  his  spirit  from  its  base  desire. 
Thus  good,  and  bad,  and  mortal,  and  divine, 
Man  lived  through  ages  and  prolonged  his  line. 
Hope  still  survived,  and  fanned  the  feeble  ray 
That  reason  gave  of  Freedom's  future  day, 
Till  warmed  at  length  the  immortal  spirit  grew, 
Beheld  Creation,  and  its  Maker  knew, 
On  flights  erratic  winged  its  fledgling  mind, 
Explored  the  world,  and  triumphed  for  mankind. 
Where'er  imagination's  wings  could  fly, 
Surveyed  the  air,  earth,  ocean,  and  the  sky, 
And  saw  them  all  as  one  harmonious  whole, 
With  God,  the  sovereign  and  superior  soul,10 
Whose  ruling  power,  with  mysterious  sway, 
Pervaded  all  and  taught  all  to  obey ; 
Fixed  rule  beheld,  and  nature's  changeless  law, 
In  all  above,  in  all  around  him  saw. 
Thus  lured  without  to  objects  vast  and  wide, 
The  soul  increased  while  Superstition  died  ; 
For  she  in  night  with  savage  brood  was  bred, 
Abhorred  the  light  and  from  its  radiance  fled  ; 
On  error  lived  and  ignorance  of  mind ; 


26      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

Could  see  no  beauty,  and  no  virtue  find, 

Save  in  dark  rites,  and  in  mysterious  ways, 

That  shunned  the  light  of  wisdom's  candid  rays  ; 

O'er  reason  claiming  a  tyrannic  right, 

Denied  its  power,  and  refused  its  light ; 

She  to  dark  caves  and  gloomy  forests  fled, 

Where  souls  as  savage  as  herself  she  led  : 

And  leagued  with  tyrants  held  her  barbarous  sway, 

Hid  in  their  -depths  from  wisdom's  cheerful  ray. 

Sects  formed  anew,  new  creeds  to  men  were  taught : 

Some  vague  indeed,  and  some  with  wisdom  fraught, 

Where  virtue  ruled,  and  deeds  of  virtue  gave 

A  high  distinction  to  the  good  and  brave.11 

Yet  none  ascendant  o'er  the  others  grew, 

For  creeds  increased,  and  ever  some  were  new. 

Each  claimed  perfection,  each  that  it  was  right ; 

Though  different  each  as  dawning  day  and  night. 

Hence  conflicts  came,  where  struggling  Reason  fought, 

And  Bigot  Zeal  her  blinding  errors  brought, 

Who  hugged  her  phantom  with  a  changeless  will, 

Opposing  Reason,  and  contending  still. 

Thus  ever  active,  ever  in  the  field, 

A  faith  to  conquer,  or  a  truth  to  shield, 

Man's  mind  increased,  and  reason  keener  grew, 

Solved  all  the  past,  arid  to  the  future  flew. 

So  KNOWLEDGE  rose,  and  spreading  far  and  wide, 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.     27 

Hurled  down  the  barriers  of  opposing  pride, 

That  votaries  of  darkness  reared  on  high,  .,- 

To  oppose  its  progress,  and  its  strength  defy. 

Things  human  and  divine  its  right  became ; 

Temporal  and  eternal  felt  its  flame ; 

The  era  dawned  of  an  awakened  world 

That  had  through  ages  been  in  darkness  hurled ; 

'Twas  but  the  dawn  of  a  far  distant  day, 

The  first  faint  gleam  of  Freedom's  earliest  ray. 

Ages  rolled  by  ere  rose  the  glorious  sun, 

And  Reason's  reign  upon  the  earth  begun. 

Say,  art  thou  wise,  art  thou  with  reason  blessed  ? 

Dost  thou  deplore  the  humbled  and  oppressed  ? 

Doth  justice'  light  thy  generous  soul  illume, 

Dispel  the  clouds  of  superstition's  gloom  ? 

Canst  thou  behold  with  an  unbiassed  mind, 

The  good  and  bad  of  all  thy  erring  kind  ? 

Admire  their  virtue,  and  their  vice  deplore ; 

Their  weakness  pity,  and  their  worth  adore  ? 

Canst  thou  confide  in  God's  superior  sway ; 

Receive  his  blessings,  and  his  laws  obey ; 

Relying  wholely  on  his  wisdom  here, 

To  rule  creation,  and  to  guide  this  sphere ; 

In  all  his  goodness,  all  his  mercy  find 

The  pledge  of  triumph  to  the  human  kind  ? 

If  such  thou  art,  thou  art  as  man  should  be, 


28      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

As  heaven  designed,  and  God  created  thee, 
Who  blended  thine  e'en  with  his  holy  aim, 
And  made  his  object  and  thy  wish  the  same ; 
In  seeking  bliss,  to  rear  thy  soul  on  high, 
And  wing  its  flight  triumphant  to  the  sky. 
If  such  thou  art,  co-worker  thoti  wilt  be 
With  all  on  earth  who  struggle  to  be  free ; 
Truth,  Justice,  Knowledge,  thou  wilt  nobly  aid ; 
Oppose  Oppression,  and  his  powers  degrade ; 
Exalt  mankind  ;  restore  all  human  right 
From  mental  darkness  to  immortal  light ; 
Extend  o'er  earth,  with  all  her  righteous  train, 
Triumphant  Reason  and  her  Freedom's  reign. 
Go  forth,  Apostle,  in  a  holy  cause, 
God's  reign  uphold,  and  justify  his  laws ; 
Receive  his  blessing,  and  his  boons  enjoy ; 
Exalt  his  goodness,  and  his  gifts  employ  ; 
Proclaim  aloud  in  every  dwelling-place 
Jehovah  rules,  the  Father  of  thy  race ; 
That  wisdom's  law  unerring  fram  above, 
Pervades  creation  with  its  maker's  love  ; 
A  love  unbounded — an  immortal  flame, 
In  God,  in  Nature,  and  in  Man  the  same — 
The  tie  mysterious  that  unites  the  whole, 
Suns,  planets,  systems,  one  harmonious  whole ! 


THE  PROGRESS  OF  FREEDOM, 

fart 


BEHOLD  the  ruins  of  dimensions  vast 
That  mark  the  mighty  empires  of  the  past  ; 
Where  time,  with  famine,  pestilence,  and  sword, 
Has  left  a  brutal  and  erratic  horde, 
The  savage  nomads  of  that  ruined  clime 
Who,  blind  to  beauties  of  its  works  sublime, 
Defile  the  dwellings  of  the  glorious  dead, 
Upon  whose  tombs  their  steps  polluting  tread. 
Alas  !  what  devastations  of  the  past 
Have  o'er  that  land  their  desolation  cast  ? 
What  potent  nations  have  forgotten  died, 
By  wrath  o'er  whelmed  in  oblivion's  tide  ? 
Yea,  mighty  empires,  kingdoms,  nations,  men, 
Forgotten  now,  were  in  their  glory  then. 
And  these,  in  the  long  lapse  of  ages  gone, 
The  bloody  triumphs  of  ambition  won  ; 
And  trod  exulting  o'er  their  prostrate  foe, 
The  guileless  victim  of  their  guilty  blow, 
To  build  an  empire  that  to  future  time 


30  THE      PROGRESS      OF      FREEDOM. 

> 

Should  tell  their  glory,  but  conceal  their  crime. 

But  all  that  lives  of  all  that  once  was  great 

Is  but  the  ruin  of  some  mighty  state, 

That  in  the  period  of  the  past  arose 

To  fame  transcendent  o'er  its  prostrate  foes, 

Consigned  unto  the  ignominious  tomb, 

Alike  the  victor's  and  the  victim's  doom  ; 

Where  side  by  side  they  now  forgotten  lie, 

Unknown  the  vanquished  and  the  victory. 

Alas  !  of  mighty  empires  that  remain, 

That  through  long  ages  stretched  their  glorious  reign, 

How  small  the  waif  that  bears  to  present  time 

Their  proudest  triumph  and  their  greatest  crime  ? 

Oh,  think  the  millions  that  to-day  must  die ! 

And  what  must  slumber  in  a  century  ! 

But  count  the  cycles  that  have  passed  and  gone, 

The  myriad  races  that  their  course  have  run, 

And  tell  me,  mortal,  what  of  human  pains 

From  nations  past  to  modern  time  remains  ? 

Go,  view  the  ruins  scattered  here  and  there, 

Where  coils  the  adder  in  his  noisome  lair ; 

And  broken  arch  and  ruined  column  spread, 

The  sad  memorials  of  the  mighty  dead ; 

Where  sigh  the  winds  that  o'er  the  boundless  waste 

Bear  death  and  ruin  in  their  poisonous  blast, 

And  sing  their  requiem  in  that  solitude, 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.      31 

Where  beasts  of  prey  and  savage  men  intrude. 

These,  all,  alas  !  of  human  grandeur  gone, 

For  man  to  muse  and  meditate  upon, 

Proclaimed  through  ages  past,  and  still  proclaim, 

The  fate  of  empires  shall  remain  the  same. 

But  soar  on  fancy's  pinions  through  her  regions  vast, 

And  view  the  visions  of  the  perished  past ; 

Alas  !  in  every  age,  in  every  sphere, 

The  same  sad  sounds  will  greet  the  listening  ear, 

The  same  sad  scenes  will  meet  the  gazing  eye, 

Deceit  and  vice,  wars,  crime,  and  vanity ; 

And  swayed  by  passion,  and  to  reason  blind, 

In  every  clime  deluded  mortal  find 

The  same  tame  tool  to  mind's  superior  sway, 

In  ages  past,  as  still  he  is  to  day ; 

Now  proud  triumphant  in  the  path  to  fame ; 

Now  abject  bowed  in  ignominious  shame, 

Now  fool  of  fortune,  now  a  victim  doomed, 

A  king  exalted,  or  a  slave  entombed. 

So  rolls  the  earth  upon  its  axis  round  ; 
Those  up  to  day  will  soon  be  humbled  found. 
The  tree  will  shed  its  leaf — the  twig  will  die — 
And  snow-clouds  gather  in  the  winter  sky. 
But  spring  returns,  and  flowers  deck  the  plain, 
The  stem  puts  forth,  the  leaves  unfold  again. 
And  these  are  types  of  nations  and  of  men. 


32      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

They  die  to-day,  but  will  appear  again  ; 
And  in  the  round  of  ages  past  and  gone 
The  self-same  deeds  have  been  by  mortals  done. 
E'en  as  material  in  the  artist's  hand, 
Thus  moulded,  now,  adorns  his  native  land, 
Now,  broke  to  fragments,  re'ars  the  stately  aisle 
Of  polished  pillars  in  some  modern  pile ; 
So  kingdoms  modelled,  and  remodelled  o'er, 
Are  still  the  same  as  they  have  been  before. 
Oppression  there  may  have  a  single  head, 
Here  hydra-like  a  thousand  in  its  stead  ; 
The  form  is  changed — the  demon  still  remains, 
The  soul,  not  body,  in  corroding  chains. 
And  men  immortal,  boasting  freedom,  dwell, 
The  tools  of  tyrants,  and  the  slaves  of  hell ! 
Ages  have  passed,  since  superstition  grew 
A  gaudy  pageant  to  the  public  view ; 
And  man  unshackled  from  the  awful  dread 
That  hung  impending  o'er  his  guilty  head, 
And  stayed  his  progress  in  the  gloomy  path 
To  silent  vengeance  of  his  hidden  wrath  ; 
Then  freed  from  fear,  and  by  reward  unswayed, 
Uncultured  man  his  brutal  lusts  obeyed ; 
And  discord  fierce  the  wreck  of  chaos  threw 
O'er  the  dark  haunts  where  superstition  grew  ;t2 
And*  war  and  rapine  leagued  with  famine  left 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.     33 

The  world  in  ruins,  and  of  hope  bereft ; 

Till  force  supreme,  o'er  force  exhausted  rose, 

And  crushed  the  power  of  opposing  foes. 

Then  laws  tyrannic  curbed  tlie  savage  mind, 

While  Superstition  triumphed  o'er  mankind  ;13 

And  bound  again,  as  with  an  iron  chain, 

Some  stubborn  beast  from  off  the  arid  plain ; 

Man  brutal  born,  by  brutal  passions  swayed, 

Succumbed  to  power,  and  her  laws  obeyed. 

O  reasoning  man,  what  bliss  supreme  were  thine, 

Couldst  thou  the  ways  of  providence  divine, 

And  curb  the  passions,  whose  tyrannic  sway 

Directs  the  progress  of  thy  dubious  way 

Through  darkening  clouds,  that  o'er  thy  erring  path 

Have  hid  the  tempest  in  its  awful  wrath. 

Alas !  that  error  should  for  ever  blind 

Thy  struggling  reason,  and  misguided  mind ; 

And  titled  power  and  oppression  chain 

Thy  soul  subservient  to  their  selfish  reign. 

Alas !  for  freedom's  boast,  and  human  right, 

Mankind  are  slumbering  'neath  the  pall  of  night ; 

Science  may  soar,  and  Art  her  fabrics  make, 

That  firm  shall  stand  when  earth  itself  shall  shake ; 

And  nations  rising  after  ages  past, 

With  wonder  view  them  in  their  ruins  vast. 

But  what  were  they  but  lonely  stars  that  shone, 


34  THE      PROGRESS      OF      FREEDOM. 

More  bright  by  darkness,  in  their  orb  alone  ; 
Small  spots  of  light  on  earth's  benighted  sphere, 
To  make  more  dark  its  shrouding  pall  appear  ;14 
A  meteor  flash  of  genius'  rnagic  power 
Enkindling  glory  for  a  transient  hour, 
While  wrapt  in  clouds,  and  midnight  darkness  deep, 
Mankind  but  lived  to  labor,  and  to  weep  ; 
To  crouch  the  slaves  of  superstitious  dread, 
And  toil  for  tyrants  whom  their  bounties  fed. 

Ages  have  passed,  and  desolation  reigns 
O'er  ruined  cities  on  the  arid  plains ; 
But  there  was  strife,  and  the  sanguine  flood 
That  bathed  their  temples  in  a  sea  of  blood ; 
The  harvest  waved,  and  there  the  herdsman  led 
His  fattened  flocks,  were  now  the  deserts  spread  ; 
Now  there  the  ostrich  frightened  flees  away, 
And  there  the  lion  prowls  for  his  prey  ; 
And  lays  him  down  within  his  lonely  den, 
The  courts  of  princes,  and  the  halls  of  men. 
No  human  voice  is  heard,  no  caravan  is  seen, 
Yet  there  the  potent  of  the  earth  have  been ; 
And  wealth,  and  power,  and  millions  thronged  the  way, 
Where  silence  broods  o'er  ruin  and  decay  ; 
And  in  the  dark  gloorcTof  gathering  ages  fade 
The  mighty  relics  that  their  wrecks  have  made. 


THE   PROGRESS-  'OF   FREEDOM.      35 

There  the  rude  warrior  with  his  bloody  creed16 
Swept,  like  the  tempest,  on  his  mettled  steed, 
And  reared  on  high,  with  scorn's  ironic  smile, 
His  human  heads  a  pyramidal  pile ; 
And  left  his  mark  in  ruin,  where  he  trod, 
The  scourge  of  nations,  and  the  wrath  of  God. 
There  the  proud  chief  that  swept  from  Persia  on,16 
Proclaimed  his  creed,  and  bowed  before  the  sun, 
While  servile  Greeks  forsook  their  gilded  fanes, 
Their  sacred  idols  and  unholy  gains ; 
And  left  to  wreak  a  pagan's  righteous  wrath, 
Their  saints  and  temples  in  his  ruthless  path. 
There  in  his  pride  the  prophet  warrior  trod,17 
Proclaiming  credence  in  one  living  God, 
Recalling  earth,  relapsing  back  again 
To  idol  worship,  to  his  holy  fane. 
There  the  bold  Norman  and  the  gallant  Gaul 
Rushed  forth  to  battle  at  their  Hermit's  call  ;18 
And  Europe  roused  her  sainted  warriors  poured, 
Illustrious  martyrs  'neath  the  paynim's  sword. 
There  the  red  cross  and  crescent  side  by  side 
Alternate  rose,  and  sank  beneath  the  tide. 
Here,  God  ! — Mahomed  !  rose  the  battle-cry, 
And  Moslems  rushed  to  conquer  or  to  die. 
There  the  fierce  Frank,  in  battle's  bright  array, 
Unsheathed  his  blade  to  murder  and  to  prey : 


36  THE      PROGRESS      OF      FREEDOM. 

Bowed  to  the  cross,  he  reared  with  faith  on  high, 
Invoked  his  saint,  and  rushed  to  victory. 
This  looked  to  heaven  for  his  glorious  prize, 
And  dreamed  of  houries  in  his  paradise ; 
That  sought  from  hell  and  all  its  flames  to  fly, 
And  soar  an  angel  in  the  boundless  sky. 
And  the  great  charm  that  nerved  to  every  deed, 
Was  which  should  triumph  with  his  cherished  creed ; 
If  the  bright  crescent  or  the  cross  should  wave, 
If  Christ  could  succor,  or  Mahomed  save. 
The  strife  is  o'er,  the  crescent  waves  on  high ! 
The  illusion's  passed,  and  all  its  vanity ! 

Vain  man,  behold  how  base  the  human  mind, 
Unswayed  by  justice  and  to  reason  blind ; 
How  great  a  dupe  thy  erring  race  can  be, 
Controlled  by  passion  and  duplicity ; 
How  strong  the  spell  whose  subtle  power  gave 
That  mighty  impulse  to  the  reckless  brave, 
And  led  combined  the  strength  of  nations  rude, 
To  rear  up  thrones  in  nature's  solitude. 
When  the  dark  storm  that  ages  held  its  course 
At  length  exhausted  spent  its  furious  force,19 
And  kingdoms  rose  upon  the  wreck  of  those 
That  fell  o'erthrown  beneath  the  shock  of  foes, 
That  subtle  force  through  storms  and  ruin  nursed, 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.      3*7 

Survived  to  nations  that  it  blessed  and  cursed. 

Now  meekly  in  its  humble  path  it  moved, 

Conformed  to  precepts  that  it  taught  and  loved, 

And  found  a  home  and  welcome  where  it  went, 

With  pious  purposes  on  good  intent. 

Then,  like  light,  amid  the  darkness  shone 

Its  charm  still  lingering  when  all  peace  had  flown. 

And  gazing  upward  through  her  falling  tears, 

Affliction  saw  a  hope  beyond  her  fears  ; 

A  quiet  place  of  rapture  and  repose, 

Beyond  the  influence  of  malignant  foes, 

Where  faith  triumphant  through  her  trials  here, 

Would  rise  to  glory  in  a  happier  sphere ; 

Where  the  dread  blight  of  devastation's  breath 

Would  cease  to  conquer,  with  the  reign  of  death ; 

And  the  poor  pilgrim,  by  oppression  bowed, 

Would  rise  superior  to  the  rich  and  proud. 

Such  the  sweet  balm  it  to  the  lowly  brought — 

'Twas  bright  with  promise — and  with  blessings  fraught ; 

And  Faith  confiding  hugged  unto  her  breast 

The  happy  vision  of  immortal  rest. 

But  joined  with  craft  that  protean  power  grew 

All  changed  in  feature,  and  in  nature  new. 

Now  serpent-like  it  crawled  upon  the  dust, 

To  gain  dominion  and  important  trust ; 

And  wound  its  fold  with  silent  stealth  around 


88      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

The  unconscious  victim  that  it  firmly  bound ; 

While  sped  unseen,  more  keen  than  venomed  dart, 

Its  fangs  infusing  poison  to  the  heart. 

So,  serpent-like,  it  triumphed  in  its  aim, 

Increased  in  power,  and  a  fiend  became. 

Colleagued  with  princes,  and  upheld  by  law, 

It  forced  submission  where  it  failed  to  awe  ; 

And  conquered  nations,  'neath  its  tyrant  sway, 

Saw  freedom  perish,  reason's  self  decay.20 

Compliance  forced,  its  precepts  were  received  ; 

And  taught  by  tyrants,  was  by  slaves  believed, 

Whose  faith  was  moulded  to  Oppression's  will, 

To  serve  his  purpose,  and  his  wish  fulfil ; 

That  Superstition  guided  to  her  goal, 

By  zeal  enkindled  for  the  immortal  soul, 

And  o'er  the  sovereign  and  the  subject  threw 

The  cloud  of  error  that  deceived  the  view, 

Beneath  whose  shade  her  machinations  spread 

To  enthrall  the  living  and  dispose  the  dead. 

And  thus  by  intrigue,  and  by  subtle  art, 

She  rose  to  power,  and  her  lion's  part,31 

While  kings  indignant  saw  themselves  outdone, 

They  vassals  living,  and  their  subjects  won ; 

A  higher  law  within  their  realms  arise 

That  thrones  could  shackle,  and  their  threats  despise  ;22 

Their  people  won,  e'en  by  the  aid  they  gave 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.      39 

To  raise  their  power,  and  subject  their  slave ; 

Saw  engines  planted  by  their  fostering  hand, 

Rise  up  like  bulwarks,  at  that  law's  command, 

Throughout  the  land  their  mighty  influence  hold, 

And  sway  their  people  like  a  tethered  fold. 

Still  unrestrained  that  rampant  power  rose, 

Till  vice  engendered  brought  its  fatal  foes,23 

And  kings  indignant,  roused  by  latent  wrong, 

And  tortured  patience  that  had  suffered  long, 

Allied  with  factions,  and  disclosed  to  light 

The  vile  corruptions  hidden  from  the  sight. 

Then  undeceived,  and  from  the  illusion  woke, 

The  first  faint  gleam  of  buried  reason  broke  ;24 

And  nations  roused,  by  adverse  factions  led, 

Contemned  the  power  that  they  ceased  to  dread  ; 

And  civil  discord's  devastating  brand 

Threw  its  red  glare  o'er  that  devoted  land. 

Ne'er  in  the  past,  when  paynirn  warriors  fought 

For  the  vile  creed  they  to  their  people  taught, 

Did  fiercer  rancor,  in  the  human  heart, 

Perform  on  earth  its  more  than  demon  part. 

Not  pandemonium  with  its  hellish  hate, 

Could  heap  on  earth  a  more  appalling  fate 

Than  cursed  mankind,  and  throughout  empires  spread 

The  wreck  of  cities  and  the  piles  of  dead, 

When  bigot  zeal,  with  faith  and  passion  blind, 


40      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

Essayed  to  conquer,  and  control  mankind.25 
0  Death,  0  Ruin,  ye  were  blessings  then 
To  the  dark  wrath  of  demon-minded  men ; 
To  die  was  sweet,  'twas  freedom  then  to  those 
Who  gazed  on  crimes  that  feeling's  fountains  froze, 
And  crushed  the  soul,  as  though  the  wheel  had  broke 
The  immortal  spirit  on  its  fatal  spoke ! 

The  storm  has  ceased,  the  ocean's  troubled  strife 
That  called  the  force  of  reason  into  life  ; 
And  slowly  passing  down  the  stream  of  time 
Float  the  dark  wrecks  of  folly  and  of  crime. 
And,  ages  hence,  in  that  deep  gulf  will  lie 
The  last  harsh  hope  of  human  vanity, 
The  pride  of  man,  a  nursling  of  the  sod, 
Who  spurns  the  earth,  and  towers  to  a  god  ; 
Prescribes  the  faith ;  and  cows  the  world  to  be 
In  forced  subjection  to  his  deity ; 
Points  out  the  form ;  and  would  the  mind  restrain 
To  act  obedient  to  despotic  reign. 
O  stubborn  fool,  will  never  wisdom  teach 
Such  force  for  ever  is  beyond  thy  reach  ? 
What  though  the  world  conform  unto  thy  way, 
Say,  does  the  soul  thy  despot  law  obey  ? 
Go,  chain  the  wind,  and  bind  the  ocean's  wave, 
Make  nature's  self  thy  subject  and  thy  slave, 
Then  mind  and  spirit  will  submit  to  thee, 


THE      PROGRESS      OF      FREEDOM.  41 

Thou  earth-born  fool  of  human  vanity  ! 

As  the  rude  rock,  beneath  the  hoof  of  steel, 
Doth  to  the  night  its  latent  light  reveal ; 
So  nations,  crushed  beneath  oppression's  rod, 
Revealed  the  ray  of  reason  and  of  God  ; 
Dispelled  the  darkness,  and  disclosed  to  light 
Oppression  robed  in  Superstition's  night ; 
The  machinations  that  her  tools  had  made 
To  bind  the  reason  and  the  soul  degrade, 
And  make  mankind,  as  man  before  had  been, 
The  dupes  of  priestcraft  and  the  slaves  of  sin. 

From  that  fierce  storm  with  death  and  ruin  rife, 
Sage  Reason  rose  and  Freedom  into  life, 
Twin-born,  amid  the  world's  convulsing  throes 
That  heaped  destruction  on  their  allied  foes, 
Bright  lights  'mid  darkness,  and  the  dread  alarms, 
That  roused  mankind  from  slumber  unto  arms  ; 
And  lit  the  beacons  that  shall  constant  burn 
Till  Reason  conquer  and  her  reign  return, 
And  man  unawed  by  Superstition's  rod, 
Nor  swayed  by  power,  shall  obey  his  God. 
Still  raged  the  storm  while  Persecution's  howl26 
Was  heard  afar,  where  'neath  her  hideous  scowl 
The  timid  nations  shrank  appalled  with  fear, 
And  felt  the  mfluence  of  her  stern  career ; 
While  nobler  races  scorned  her  proffered  creed 
2* 


42      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

And  dared  the  vengeance  of  her  foulest  deed. 
Then  earth's  extremes  the  furious  conflict  felt, 
And  Vengeance  ruled,  and  Mercy  vainly  knelt. 
From  India's  shore  to  Andes'  towering  steep 
Mankind  were  taught  to  tremble  and  to  weep  ;27 
While  borne  on  high  her  bloody  banner  reared, 
With  reeking  blades  and  blazing  brands  appeared. 
Thus  flaunted  far  upon  each  foreign  shore 
Her  dripping  ensign  steeped  in  human  gore  ; 
While  slaughtered  nations,  ruined  cities  told 
The  lust  of  rapine  and  the  love  of  gold, 
That  demon  power,  with  despotic  sway, 
Controlled,  to  vanquish,  and  convert  her  prey, 
With  futile  hope  to  rear  in  blood  again 
The  boundless  fabric  of  her  gloomy  reign. 
For  what,  0  Europe,  did  thy  courage  foil 
The  sullen  despot  driven  from  his  spoil  ? 
For  what  from  thee  thy  wrath  in  vengeance  hurled 
Her  chains  and  fetters  forged  upon  the  world  ? 
For  what  thy  strength  on  Chalons'  sanguine  plain 
Heaped  high  the  piles  and  hecatombs  of  slain,28 
While  dark  the  Loire  with  Moorish  blood  grew  red ; 
And  rolled  his  waves  encumbered  with  the  dead  ? 
For  what  the  Danube  through  a  thousand  years 
Received  the  tribute  of  thy  blood  and  tears  ; 
And  rose  thy  arms  the  rampart  of  thy  power, 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.      43 

In  slaughter's  deadliest  and  its  darkest  hour  ? 

Alas !  thy  courage  and  thy  conquests  vain, 

Thy  shout  of  freedom,  that  is  heard  again — 

No  :  not  in  vain  rolled  there  the  deafening  shout, 

Where  myriads  perished  in  the  battle  rout ; 

To  those  who  fell  upon  the  field  to  die, 

'Twas  peace  to  them — eternal  liberty  ; 

Peace  from  the  noise  of  tyrants'  endless  strife, 

And  glorious  freedom  from  degraded  life, 

That  soul  and  body  wore  the  galling  chain. 

It  bore  unconscious,  or  beheld  in  vain, 

While  struggling  nobly  in  a  hundred  fights, 

Its  shout  of  freedom  rose  for  human  rights. 

Still  regal  rule,  from  force  superior  free, 

Bowed  nations  down  in  abject  slavery  ;29 

Usurped  the  power  that  its  strength  o'erthrew, 

Duped  struggling  man,  and  more  imperious  grew  ; 

Placed  crown  and  mitre  on  the  royal  head, 

And  gave  the  crosier  in  the  sceptre's  stead. 

Thus  armed  with  strength  of  heaven,  earth,  and  hell, 

Oppression  rose,  the  hierarch  that  fell  ;30 

Established  orders  and  his  faith  prescribed  ; 

The  priests  exalted,  and  their  service  bribed, 

Snatched  from  the  poor  their  hard-earned  fruits,  to  feed 

The  subtle  tyrants  that  upheld  his  creed ; 

Who  due  submission  unto  kingly  sway, 


44  THE      PROGRESS      OF      FREEDOM. 

With  solemn  farces  taught  unto  the  lay  ;3' 
And  precepts  thick  in  ancient  scriptures  found 
To  give  it  power,  and  the  vantage  ground. 
For  who  denied  what  heaven  itself  had  taught 
Became  rebellious,  new  devices  sought, 
Strayed  from  the  path  that  holy  men  had  trod 
Who  talked  on  earth  and  wrestled  with  their  God ; 
Sought  to  subvert  the  soul's  established  creed 
The  power  had  fixed,  and  faith  was  bound  to  heed. 
The  rack,  the  prison,  torture,  and  the  flame, 
The  wrath  of  rabble,  and  the  brand  of  shame, 
The  bigot  zeal  of  slavish  subjects  made 
The  potent  engines  of  a  tyrant's  trade  ; 
And  free-born  mind  that  dared  to  think  or  act 
Was  doomed  to  torture  on  the  horrid  rack. 
Then  priestly  craft  colleagued  with  kings  became 
In  nature  tyrants,  and  in  creed  the  same. 
And  prelates  rose  to  regal  pomp  and  state, 
To  rank  with  princes  and  With  peers  as  great. 
Thus  rose  again,  but  in  a  different  form, 
The  subtile  power  that  produced  the  storm32 
That  swept  o'er  Europe,  and  in  blood  and  flame 
Deep  stamped  the  stigma  of  eternal  shame. 
'Twas  royal  rule,  from  priestly  thraldom  free, 
That,  in  that  strife,  had  gained  its  liberty  ;33 
Not  man  bowed  down  by  hierarchal  sway, 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.      45 

In  forced  submission,  blindly  to  obey  ; 

Though  conscience'  freedom  was  the  specious  plea 

That  tyrants  urged  with  bigot  slavery, 

To  rouse  mankind  against  the  subtile  force 

That  ruled  their  influence,  and  controlled  their  course. 

And  thus  in  every  age,  in  every  clime, 

Have  righteous  objects  been  the  pleas  for  crime ; 

And  man,  inveigled  like  a  brute,  been  led 

To  slavish  thraldom  that  he  gained  instead. 

But  all  in  vain  did  craft  and  power  plan 

Their  machinations  for  the  mind  of  man  ; 

Though  forced  by  power  and  deceived  by  art, 

Still  reason  slumbered  in  the  human  heart, 

Which  knowledge  lighted,  and  invention  gave 

A  strength  too  potent  to  submit  a  slave.34 

Concealed  by  darkness  through  a  thousand  years, 
The  reign  of  terror,  and  of  human  tears, 
The  light  of  knowledge  shed  no  cheering  beam 
Through  time's  dark  tempest  on  his  troubled  stream  ; 
But  rude  barbarians,  in  their  brutal  lust, 
Hurled  art  and  science  headlong  to  the  dust ; 
While  Superstition  in  her  gloomy  cell 
Adored  the  darkness  that  concealed  her  spell. 
But  genius'  radiance  'mid  the  darkness  shone 
Where  terror  guarded  and  upheld  the  throne, 
On  ruin  founded,  that  oppression  built, 


46      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

By  force  and  fraud,  in  human  blood  and  guilt. 

Then  brutal  power,  by  its  sway  undone, 

Saw  Error  vanquished,  and  her  victims  won  ; 

And  Superstition  in  her  gloomy  cell 

With  demon  vengeance  and  with  venom  swell ; 

While  Persecution,  impotent  with  rage, 

Her  fold  recoiled,  and  crouched  within  her  cage. 

And  thus — like  reptiles  that  receive  their  birth 

From  stagnant  puddles  that  pollute  the  earth  ; 

Or  prowling  beasts  that  midnight  seek  their  prey, 

Yet  slinking  cravens  in  the  light  of  day — 

The  coward  tyrants  of  oppressed  mankind 

Were  struck  with  terror,  and  with  brightness  blind, 

When  Knowledge  rose  to  roll  the  night  away, 

The  noxious  vapors  of  its  long  decay  ; 

And  dry  the  waters  of  the  stagnant  flood 

Where  Error  harbored  with  her  vicious  brood. 

Then  Art  ingenious,  with  her  wondrous  skill, 

To  second  Science,  and  her  wish  fulfil, 

Her  mighty  engines  brought  with  force  to  bear 

On  Error  hidden  in  her  fenny  lair  : 

And  armed  mankind  with  learning's  flaming  brand 

To  attack  Oppression,  or  his  force  withstand. 

Then  curious  Commerce,  with  her  swelling  sail, 

Sought  distant  lands  with  fortune's  favoring  gale  ; 

And  found  afar,  beyond  the  ocean's  wave, 


THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM.      47 

A  home  to  welcome  and  receive  the  brave — 

A  world  unknown,  within  the  boundless  deep, 

Where  Mercy  smiled,  and  Sorrow  ceased  to  weep. 

Then  from  its  bonds  the  freeborn  spirit  broke, 

That  cunning  tyrants  had  essayed  to  yoke 

As  some  huge  beast  within  its  limits  bound 

To  bear  its  burden,  and  to  till  the  ground  ;  ^  - 

And  be  contented  with  its  hay  and  shed, 

From  priests  and  tyrants  whom  it  clothed  and  fed ; 

And  nursed  in  power  and  luxurious  sloth — 

Beloved  by  neither,  but  abhorred  by  both. 

Then  sects  and  factions,  bound  by  mutual  ties, 

Colleagued  together,  and  became  allies  ; 

And  dared  to  differ  from  established  faith,35 

And  seek  through  reason  for  the  righteous  path 

That  led  to  heaven  from  a  tyrant's  wrath, 

And  raised  mankind  from  kingly  thraldom  free, 

The  immortal  subjects  of  the  deity. 

Then  reason's  ray  burst  through  the  eastern  sky, 

Proclaimed  the  dawn  of  human  liberty  ; 

O'er  Ocean  flashed,  and  lit  beyond  his  wave 

The  birth  of  Freedom,  and  Oppression's  grave. 

Not  all  the  wisdom  of  experience  past ; 
Not  dread  forebodings  o'er  their  spirits  cast ; 
Not  the  still  voice  that  whispered  in  their  ear, 
The  time  will  come,  and  vengeance  will  appear ; 


48      THE   PROGRESS   OF   FREEDOM. 

Not  the  bright  flash  that  through  the  fearful  gloom 
Disclosed  fair  Freedom  on  Oppression's  tomb, 
And  Knowledge,  armed  with  flaming  sword,  stand 
With  Truth  and  Justice,  guardians  of  the  land  ; 
Could  move  the  tyrants  of  mankind  that  stood 
Opposed  to  Reason,  and  bestained  with  blood. 
"But  the  bright  ray  that,  buried  in  the  soul, 
Bursts  every  bond  beyond  the  world's  control, 
And  flashes  far  along  its  native  sky, 
Was  never  born  to  vanish  or  to  die. 
And  the  dark  Fiend,  that  ages  past  has  bound 
Its  fiery  pinions  fettered  to  the  ground, 
Has  felt  its  shock  ;  and  soon  shall  feel  again 
The  wrath  of  Freedom  rend  Oppression's  chain  ; 
And  see  mankind,  enlightened,  scorn  the  rule 
Of  sceptred  tyrants  and  their  mitred  tools  ; 
And  righteous  laws  on  justice  firmly  rise 
To  rule  the  world  with  wisdom  from  the  skies. 

October,  1851. 


REFLECTIONS  ON   THE   YEAR    1848. 

ANOTHER  year  Time's  long  career  extends ; 
The  new  one  blooming  where  the  old  one  ends ; 
The  Past  united  to  the  endless  train 
Of  things  once  been  that  ne'er  can  be  again, 
Fast  hastening  onward  to  the  darkening  shade, 
To  which  the  strongest  and  the  fairest  fade ; 
The  oblivious  tomb  to  glory  and  to  shame, 
The  noblest  triumph  and  the  loftiest  name. 
The  Future  opening  with  its  flattering  scene, 
Yet  still  illusive  as  the  past  has  been, 
Where  man  the  mimic  on  the  stage  appears, 
To  act  his  part  of  rapture,  hope,  and  fears ; 
Strut  the  same  round  that  others  pranced  before, 
In  vapor  vanish,  and  appear  no  more. 

To  rear  up  fabrics,  and  to  pull  them  down, 
To  plant  a  garden,  or  to  plan  a  town, 
A  fortress  capture,  or  a  battle  fight, 
Oppress  the  feeble,  or  assert  their  right, 
Or  hoard  on  hoard  a  useless  treasure  rear, 
Appears  the  aim  of  pompous  mortals  here. 
Lo  !    Europe's  fabrics  based  in  human  blood, 
With  tears  cemented,  have  their  period  stood, 


50  REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  YEAR   1848. 

And  now  to  earth  a  rotten  ruin  hurled, 

Low  lie  neglected  where  they  cursed  the  world. 

While  the  loud  shout  that  ages  rang  before, 

Still  swells  on  high  above  the  tumult's  roar ; 

That  shout  that  peasant  prince  and  traitor  cry, 

Yea,  tyrants  whisper  when  accursed  they  die ; 

That  rang  amid  Helvetia's  mountains  wild, 

When  heaven-born  Freedom  from  their  summits  smiled. 

And  sounded  far  Oppression's  funeral  knell, 

That  told  the  triumphs  of  her  patriot  Tell ; 

That  from  Asturias'  rocky  summit  rolled, 

When  bold  Palayo  left  his  mountain  hold ; 

And  led  to  vengeance  o'er  Iberia's  plain 

The  unvanquished  warriors,  his  victorious  train  ; 

That  rang  o'er  Britain  when  the  Regicide 

Rose  high  to  power  with  imperial  pride, 

And  taught  how  sovereigns  should  with  wisdom  reign, 

Or  subjects  triumph,  and  their  rights  regain  ;     * 

A  sound  that  has  in  every  age  been  heard, 

Beloved  by  freemen,  and  by  tyrants  feared, 

/-i 
And  yet  alike  to  every  end  designed, 

To  bless,  to  honor,  and  to  curse  mankind. 
Now  the  Far  West  upon  Pacific's  coast, 
We  find  no  more — 'tis  in  the  ocean  lost. 
Then  in  some  isle  we'll  seek  it  o'er  the  main  ; 
But  followed  there,  it  flies  from  us  again. 


REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  YEAR  1848.  51 

If  to  Australia  we  pursue  it  there, 

'Tis  lost  again,  and  vanished  in  the  air. 

So  rolls  the  tide  of  emigration  on, 

To  Fuca's  Strait,  and  distant  Oregon, 

Where  now  in  embryo  mighty  cities  grow, 

That  marts  of  commerce,  living  men  shall  know  ; 

When  Asia's  wealth  shall  eastward  find  its  way, 

And  Freedom  rule  where  Britain  holds  the  sway. 

And  still  the  phantom  man  pursued  of  yore 

He  seeks  for  still,  as  he  has  sought  before  ; 

'Twas  gold  that  lured  him  to  the  Western  World, 

'Twas  gold  the  banner  of  his  chief  unfurled, 

'Twas  gold  that  nerved  him  for  the  murderous  blow 

That  struck  for  Peru,  and  for  Mexico, 

And  now  'tis  gold,  and  California's  too, 

That  lures  him  on  his  triumphs  to  renew. 

All,  all,  he  leaves  to  find  the  glittering  grain, 

High  mountains  climbs,  and  braves  the  boisterous  main, 

Friends,  home,  and  kindred,  every  comfort  leaves, 

For  gold  resigns  them,  nor  resigning  grieves. 

Such  the  allurements  to  entice  mankind, 

Heaven  in  mercy  for  our  race  designed. 

We  seek  our  own,  but  still  this  purpose  do  ; 

Fulfil  His  wishes,  and  our  own  pursue  ; 

Blind  to  the  end  to  which  He  leads  us  on, 

Until  He  triumphs,  and  the  deed  is  done. 


52  REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  YEAR  1848. 

So  too,  fierce  war  expels  from  Europe's  plain 
Her  struggling  people  o'er  the  Western  main. 
To  distant  lands,  unpeopled  isles  they  go, 
And  weep  their  blessings  while  they  feel  the  woe, 
Till  in  some  Eden  of  Pacific's  steep, 
They  smile  with  rapture,  and  they  cease  to  weep. 
"War,  too,  it  was  that  westward  led  our  arms  ; 
War  lured  our  warriors  with  its  martial  charms ; 
In  foreign  lands  they  fame  and  glory  sought, 
Stormed  frowning  forts,  and  bloody  battles  fought ; 
Exploring  mountains^  and  the  desert  waste, 
On  every  field  victorious  to  the  last. 
So  Heaven  ordained,  and  so  their  prowess  won ; 
But  not  for  glory  were  those  triumphs  done — 
The  weak  vain  purpose  of  the  human  mind, 
To  God's  great  object  still  for  ever  blind. 
Was  it  for  tinsel  show  and  vain  parade 
Those  mighty  triumphs  for  our  race  were  made  ? 
Was  it  that  man  for  vulgar  gaze  and  gape 
Should  e'en  the  struttings  of  a  peacock  ape  ? 
Has  Heaven  naught  else  for  mortals  here  to  do, 
Than  the  vainglory  of  their  pride  pursue  ? 
Did  He  send  forth  to  perish  on  the  plain, 
Ten  thousand  men  to  make  one  mortal  vain  ? 
O  ye  !  who  praise  the  living  and  neglect  the  dead, 
Think  of  the  heroes  who  have  nobly  bled, 


REFLECTIONS  ON   THE  YEAR  1848.  53 

Who  foremost  rushed,  and  fearless  led, 

When  Carnage  triumphed  and  when  Mercy  fled  ; 

Think  of  your  country,  her  triumphant  reign  ; 

Think  of  her  honor,  and  her  heroes  slain  ; 

Oh  !  give  to  them  the  merit  still  their  due  ; 

They  fought  for  honor  and  they  died  for  you  ! 

And  while  afar  the  shouts  of  Freedom  swell, 
That  nation's  triumph  in  her  battle  tell, 
And  struggling  man,  to  reassert  his  right, 
Hurls  down  the  fabrics  of  tyrannic  might ; 
May  Wisdom  light,  with  her  celestial  ray, 
The  path  to  Virtue  and  to  peaceful  sway ; 
Impartial  Justice  rule  with  equal  laws, 
Direct  their  councils,  and  decide  each  cause  ; 
Fair  Freedom  rise,  resume  her  ancient  right, 
Usurped  by  tyrants  in  barbarian  night ; 
And  man,  the  sovereign  of  his  race,  demand 
The  rights  inalien  of  his  native  land, 
To  rank  as  God  and  Nature  have  designed, 
By  moral  virtues  and  the  rule  of  mind. 
O  ye  !  who  cant  of  justice,  and  corruption  aid  ; 
Exalt  the  wicked,  and  the  good  degrade  ; 
Pervert  the  powers  that  to  bless  were  given, 
Outraging  Nature  and  defying  Heaven  ; 
Ye  tyrants  great,  of  title  and  of  power, 


54  REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  YEAR  1848. 

Ye  mimic  monsters  of  the  passing  hour — 
Or  where  your  fabrics  down  to  ruin  roll, 
Or  where  they  rise  gigantic  at  the  pole, 
Or  where  Columbia  boasts  her  equal  laws — 
Turn  to  the  past,  and  for  a  moment  pause ; 
Back  to  the  ages  of  departed  time, 
Behold  the  progress  of  careering  crime, 
And  learn,  oh  !  learn  from  every  fallen  state, 
Your  future  prospects  and  your  certain  fate. 

May  this  New  Year  to  earth  new  blessings  bring, 
New  hopes  and  pleasures  as  the  buds  of  spring  ; 
And  these  new  fruits  for  future  nations  bear, 
Who  shall  our  triumphs  and  our  bounties  share. 
May  hallowed  Peace  her  heavenly  influence  shed, 
Where'er  the  footsteps  of  our  race  shall  tread  ; 
And  teach  mankind  there's  bliss  for  mortals  here, 
Which  Heaven  will  sanction  in  their  wise  career ; 
And  still  impart  with  an  unbounded  grace 
To  all  the  offspring  of  the  human  race. 

May  Wisdom  guide  and  Justice  rule  the  world ; 
The  sword  be  sheathed,  the  bloody  standard  furled ; 
Fair  Commerce  prosper,  and  productive  Art ; 
New  cities  rise,  and  flourish  every  mart ; 
Young  Freedom's  reign  to  earth's  extreme  extend  ; 
Oppression  cease,  and  wars  for  ever  end  !  * 

Natchez,  Jan.  1849. 


COLONEL  WILLIAM  ROBERTSON  M'KEE. 

WHO    FELL    AT    BUENA    VISTA. 

HE  fell  as  falls  the  good  and  brave ; 
He  fills  a  patriot  soldier's  grave ; 
And  ne'er  a  nobler  being  bled, 
Or  purer  soul  from  mortal  fled, 
Than  on  at  Buena  Yista  led 
The  gallant,  generous,  and  the  free, 
Kentucky's  noble  son,  M'Kee. 

The  monument  may  rise  on  high, 
And  fame  speak  loud  of  those  who  die 
Obedient  to  their  country's  laws, 
In  freedom's  just  and  holy  cause ; 
Yet  memory  often  there  shall  pause 
To  pay  devotion's  debt  to  thee, 
The  gallant,  wise,  and  good  M'Kee. 

Thy  name  inscribed  on  history's  page, 
Shall  long  be  loved  by  youth  and  age, 
A  pure  and  glorious  beacon  guide 
To  those  who,  o'er  the  battle's  tide, 


56      COL.      WILLIAM     ROBERTSON     M^KEE 

Would  on  to  fame  and  glory  ride, 
Triumphing  o'er  its  threatening  sea, 
To  fall  and  conquer,  like  M'Kee. 

Though  soon  the  spear  and  sword  shall  rust, 

And  monuments  return  to  dust, 

Yet  Buena  Vista's  dreadful  day, 

That  tore  Kentucky's  gems  away, 

Shall  live  o'er  ruin  and  decay, 

With  those  who  fell  with  brave  M'Kee, 

At  Mexico's  Thermopylae. 


RE-INTERMENT   OF   NAPOLEON, 

Lo  !  his  dust  lies  in  peace  where  his  shade  should  repose ; 
Where  his  genius  to  fame  from  the  tempest  arose ; 
And  his  halo  of  glory  the  brightest  appeared, 
When  his  eagles  o'er  Europe  in  triumph  were  reared. 

Lo !  his  dust  lies  in  peace,  and  the  soldier's  sad  tear, 
O'er  the  storm-beaten  cheek,  doth  illumine  his  bier ; 
But  where  tears  dim  the  eye,  and  deep  pangs  pierce  the 

heart, 
The  dark  wrongs  of  their  warrior  to  memory  start. 

There's  a  cloud  thai  envelopes  the  tomb  of  the  dead, 
A  blot  on  the  banner  that  to  victory  led, 
And  an  isle  in  the  deep  where  that  standard  must  wave, 
Ere  that  cloud  shall  depart  from  the  touib  of  the  brave. 

O  France,  shall  the  shade  of  thy  conqueror  still  call 
For  redress  from  the  foes  who  conspired  his  fall ; 
Whose  strong  vessels  bore  him  o'er  the  dark-rolling 

deep, 

A  lone  exile  in  chains  on  his  bleak  rock  to  weep  ? 
3 


58  R  E  -  I  N  T  E  R  M  E  N  T      OF      N  A  P  O  L  E  O  V  . 

Hath  the  spirit  of  Freedom  departed  from  earth, 
That  oppression  may  rule  in  the  land  of  her  birth 
And  the  offspring  of  valor  in  agony  feel 
The  deep  wound  to  their  honor,  that  never  can 

Oh,  the  dark  clouds  are  gathering,  the  tempest  draws 

nigh, 
Whence  the  lightnings  of  Freedom  shall  flash  through 

the  sky ; 

And  her  standard  once  more  be  in  triumph  unfurled, 
Where  the  rays  of  her  glory  illumined  the  world  ; 

When  freemen  in  arms  shall  to  the  conflict  advance, 
With  the  genius  of  war,  o'er  the  green  hills  of  France, 
And  the  Queen  of  the  Isles  for  her  lone  kingdom  quail, 
As  their  wild  shrieks  of  vengeance  shall  swell  on  each 
gale. 

Oh  !  then  shall  the  blot  that  thy  fame  hath  defaced, 
O  France,  from  thy  banner  be  for  ever  erased  ; 
And  the  shade  of  thy  hero  in  glory  repose 
Where  his  genius  through  tempests  to  triumph  arose. 

Natchez,  1841. 


LIBERTY  AND  FRANCE. 

TO   MARIE    ANTOINETTE. 

STORMS  are  gathering  o'er  the  wave,  / 

The  signs  for  ever  vary ; 
Oppression  treads  the  crouching  slave, 

Freedom  nerves  the  struggling  brave, 
Liberty  and  France  !  my  Marie. 

Far  shall  float  her  standard  red, 

A  nation  on  shall  carry 
The  motto  of  the  mighty  dead, 
Their  country's  hope,  the  tyrant's  dread, 

"  Liberty  and  France  !"  my  Marie. 

Hark !  her  sons  the  falchion  wield — 

Now  like  heroes  bear  ye, 
Rush  with  banner,  spear ,  and  shield, 
Onward  to  the  battle  field  ! 

Liberty  and  France !  my  Marie. 

Who  is  foremost  in  the  van  ? — 
Gallia's  sons  there  are  ye  ! 


60  LIBERTY      AND      FRANCE. 

Where  the  blood  in  torrents  ran, 
With  freedom's  cry  and  talisman, 
"  Liberty  and  France  !"  my  Marie. 

Europe's  sons  from  slavery  rise, 
Tyrants  yet  doth  spare  ye  ; 

Seek  ye  not  the  glorious  prize  ? 

Hear  ye  not  their  battle  cries  ? 
"  Liberty  and  France !"  my  Marie. 

Europe  trembles  to  their  tread, 

Now  of  tyrants  weary, 
Behold,  they  rise  who  long  have  bled, 
And,  with  that  cry,  they  wake  the  dead. 
"  Liberty  and  France !"  my  Marie. 

Phila.  nth  July,  1848. 


APPEAL  OF    HUNGARY. 

ON,  freemen,  to  battle  !  the  foemen  draw  nigh ; 

They  tread  o'er  the  tombs  where  your  brave  sires  lie, 

The  heroes  whose  strength,  an  impregnable  shield, 

Rose  the  rampart  of  Europe  on  the  battle's  red  field, 

When  the  tide  of  the  Ottoman  rushed  on  in  its  wrath, 

O'er  each  barrier  that  rose  in  his  desolate  path, 

Till  the  Hun  and  Albanian36  hurled  back  the  dark  flood, 

And  the  Danube  rolled  red  with  the  Mussulman's  blood, 

While  Croia  beheld  like  a  fugitive  fly, 

Proud  Amurath's  hosts,  from  bold  Scanderbeg's  cry. 

Oh,  remember  the  deeds  when  Hunniades  led  ; 

And  the  bright  trophies  won  by  your  warriors  who  bled, 

And  on  to  the  conflict,  the  Tyrant  defy, 

Like  your  sires  resist  till  you  conquer  or  die. 

We  ask  not  for  aid  from  the  Briton  or  Gaul, 

We  look  but  to  heaven,  to  conquer  or  fall ; 

And  unfurl  the  bright  banner  of  Freedom  on  high, 

To  advance  should  we  conquer,  to  fall  should  we  die. 

Then  let  the  dark  hosts  of  Oppression  advance, 

And  shrink  from  the  conflict  the  Traitor  of  France. 

We  ask  not  his  aid,  or  his  sympathy  claim ; 


62  APPEAL      OF      HUNGARY. 

The  deeds  of  our  sires  shall  nurture  our  flame. 

And  armed  for  the  struggle,  though  Oppression  should 

roll 

His  swarms  from  the  desert,  the  mountain,  and  pole, 
Undismayed  in  his  path,  all  alone  we  would  stand 
The  last  bulwark  of  Freedom,  and  hope  of  the  land. 
Then  arm  !  For  the  cause  of  humanity  rise ; 
For  Freedom  confiding  on  your  courage  relies  ; 
And  nations  behold  her  bright  banner  unfurled, 
With  the  hope  that  its  folds  may  encircle  the  world. 
Then  rush  to  the  conflict,  in  heaven  confide, 
Though  the  foemen  roll  on  like  the  ocean's  dark  tide ; 
For  remember  when  Israel  by  Oppression  was  trod, 
The  waters  rolled  refluent  at  the  mandate  of  God, 
But  returned  overwhelming,  with  vengeance  and  wrath, 
The  fierce  tyrants  that  rushed  in  the  fugitives'  path. 
Remember  Columbia  in  the  shroud  of  the  tomb, 
After  years  of  dense  darkness,  arose  from  its  gloom, 
Though  the  shades  of  adversity  shrouded  her  o'er, 
And  the  clouds  of  the  carnage  that  crimsoned  her  shore  ; 
And  refulgently  beamed  o'er  the  land  of  the  west, 
As  the  guide  of  the  wronged  to  the  home  of  their  rest. 
Oh  !    fierce  was  the  strife  'gainst  the  mightiest  of  earth, 
When  Liberty  arose  at  her  champion's  birth, 
And  Columbia'  unaided  rushed  on  to  the  strife, 
And  struck  for  her  altars,  her  freedom,  and  life. 


APPEAL      OF      HUNGARY.  63 

Then  France  not  unmoved  the  stern  conflict  beheld, 
But  rushed  with  her  warriors  in  aid  to  the  field, 
When  clouds  grew  the  darkest  that  lowered  around, 
And  freemen  no  respite  from  the  fierce  struggle  found. 
Oh,  then  'did  her  champion,  though  young  for  a  chief, 
Bring  glory  to  France,  arid  to  Freedom  relief; 
And  Columbia  adorn  with  a  chaplet  of  fame 
Inscribed  with  his  own  and  with  Washington's  name. 
Oh !  shame  on  her  now,  with  her  folly  and  pride, 
E'en  tyrants  in  secret  her  actions  deride ; 
While  boasting  of  freedom,  she  barters  her  fame, 
And  the  blood  of  her  children,  for  injustice  and  shame; 
And  a  puppet  exalts  to  be  worshipped  perchance 
As  the  heir  to  the  glory  and  genius  of  France, 
Of  the  Hero  who  led  her  to  victory  on, 
And  crowned  her  with  trophies  most  gloriously  won. 
He  gave  her  his  triumphs,  he  gave  her  his  fame, 
But  he  gave  not  his  genius  or  glory  to  shame. 
He  illumined  her  councils  with  the  light  of  his  mind ; 
To  the  deeds  of  her  armies,  her  science  he  joined  ; 
And  scattered  o'er  Europe  the  germs  that  now  grow, 
When  he  struck   down  her   tyrants,    and  their    king 
doms  laid  low. 

Then  look,  fellow-freemen,  to  God  and  your  right, 
Confiding  to  triumph  o'er  injustice  and  might, 
And  rush  to  the  conflict,  though  dark  be  the  day, 


64  APPEAL      OF      HUNGARY. 

Though  ruin  surround  us  with  gloom  and  dismay. 

For  the  day-star  of  hope  from  its  darkness  shall  rise,. 

And  all  Europe  respond  to  ©ur  victory  cries ; 

When  back  borne  the  Tyrant,  like  the  Persian  of  olcft 

Shall,  his  cohorts  subdued,  with  deep  anguish  beholcfr 

And  the  fierce  tide  of  nations  in  vengeance  roll  by, 

While  the  smoke  of  his  cities  shall  darken  the  sky, 

And  their  ruins  rise  up  o*er  the  desolate  plain, 

The  rude  wreck  of  their  wrath,  in  the  road  of  the  slain,, 

That  posterity  shall  show,  as  the  vengeance  of  strife, 

When  Oppression  and  Freedom  gaged  buttle  fo*  life. 

Phila.  August^  1849. 


BATTLE  OF  ROTHERTHUM. 


WELL  is  the  battle  now  begun, 

That  northward  rolls  its  furious  tide, 

Where  tortured  Pole  and  struggling  Hun 
The  conquering  hosts  of  Freedom  guide. 

Far  from  the  North,  Oppression  poured 

His  lawless  tribes  to  battle  led, 
While  nations  bowed  beneath  the  sword 

That  wrath  unsheathed  and  vengeance  sped. 

But  hark  !  the  welkin  rings  again, 
And  nations  rise  to  backward  roll 

O'er  smouldering  town  and  reeking  plain, 
The  tide  of  battle  to  the  pole. 

A  thousand  pangs,  a  thousand  wrongs. 

In  secret  born,  in  silence  nursed, 
The  theme  of  story,  and  of  songs, 

Foretold  the  tempest  that  shall  burst. 


66  BATTLE      OF      ROTHERTHUM. 

And  now  the  tocsin  sounds  at  last ; 

By  Danube's  wave,  by  Seine  it  peals, 
O'er  Georgia's  heights,  Siberia's  waste, 

Where'er  a  heart  for  freedom  feels. 

E'en  curls  the  Moslem's  lip  of  pride, 

And  boils  his  blood  for  vengeance  deep  ; 

He  longs  to  join  the  battle's  tide, 

And  o'er  his  vanquished  victor  sweep. 

Truth  shall  restore  her  heavenly  light, 
And  Freedom's  banner  be  unfurled, 

Where  dark  Oppression  rules  in  night, 
And  Slavery  bows  a  bleeding  world. 

Thou  titled  Tyrant  of  mankind, 

From  Superstition's  darkness  sprung, 

Where  now  shalt  thou  a  refuge  find, 

From  all  the  hearts  for  vengeance  strung  ? 

Long  hast  thou  chained  the  human  race, 
And  fanned  the  flame  of  mortal  strife  ; 

Thou'st  trod  triumphant  to  disgrace, 

O'er  kingdoms  wrecked,  and  human  life. 


BATTLE      OF      ROTHERTHUM.  6*7 

The  bonds  with  wrongs  so  restless  worn, 
A  nation's  hoarded  strength  shall  sever  ; 

And  from  thy  grasp,  in  wrath  be  torn 
Thy  sceptre  and  thy  crown  for  ever  ! 

Natchez,  June,  1849. 


DEFENDERS  OF  COMORN, 


BRAVE  men  !  on  high  your  standards  fly, 
Though  traitors  have  betrayed  you  ; 

And  tyrants  still  your  souls  defy, 
Who  would  to  slaves  degrade  you. 

Thus  firmly  stand,  the  chosen  band 
That  Freedom  guides  to  glory, 

And  struggle  for  your  native  land, 
Though  Fortune's  frowning  o'er  you. 

The  brewing  storm  has  scarce  a  form, 

A  speck  above  the  ocean, 
And  yours  may  be  the  magic  charm, 

To  raise  the  world's  commotion. 

Proud  Spain  undone,  Palayo  won 
While  ruin  reigned  around  him  ; 

And  glorious  deeds  as  e'er  were  done, 
With  fame  and  freedom  crowned  him. 


DEFENDERS      OF      CO  MORN.  69 

Then  strike  for  fame,  your  nation's  name, 

Her  freedom,  and  her  glory, 
And  blot  from  earth  the  blighting  shame 

That  stains  her  page  of  story. 

Phila.tOct.  1849. 


MAGYAR'S  HOPE. 


"  The  day  of  regeneration  cannot  be  distant,  and  the  fury  of  our  conquerors 
only  hastens  its  dawn.  Hope,  which  always  remains  with  truth  and  justice, 
remains  above  all  with  her.  Besides,  the  whole  fabric  of  despotism,  in  Europe, 
stands  on  foundations  of  sand,  worn  ever  more  and  more  away  by  the 
rushing  flood  of  Democratic  ideas;  and  when  it  falls  it  will  crush  only  kings 
and  oppressors,  and  from  its  crumbling  remains  the  liberated  nations  will  rise, 
young  and  vigorous,  for  a  new  and  happy  career.  And  Hungary  will  rise 
with  them." 

UJHAZY. 

YES,  by  the  wrongs  in  anguish  borne, 
By  the  rights  from  freemen  torn, 
By  the  blood  of  martyrs  shed, 
By  the  gallant  glorious  dead, 
By  the  nation's  awful  doom, 
That  cry  for  vengeance  from  the  tomb, 
Shall  Freedom  rise  o'er  Europe's  plain, 
And  Justice  burst  the  Tyrant's  chain. 


Yes,  May  gars,  hail  the  dawning  day 
When  freemen's  arms  shall  darkly  pay 
The  deep,  deep  debt  to  tyrants  due, 
Who  sacked  your  towns,  your  children  slew, 
And  gave  to  vile  vindictive  rage 


HOPE.  71 

Fair  woman's  charms  and  hoary  age, 
And  kindled  high  the  patriot  flame, 
To  light  your  glory  and  their  shame. 

Oh  !  soon  shall  come  the  glad  command, 
To  seek  again  your  native  land, 
And  burst  Oppression's  galling  chain, 
That  ne'er  shall  bind  your  homes  again. 
Hope  hails  with  joy  the  coming  time, 
When  Justice  o'er  your  native  clime 
Shall  rear  aloft  the  impartial  sword, 
To  smite  the  Tyrant  and  his  horde. 

By  Messenia's  chieftain  great,37 
By  his  country's  mournful  fate, 
By  Vanwinklereid  who  fell, 
To  break  Oppression's  iron  spell, 
By  the  blood  of  Warren  shed, 
And  all  Columbia's  hallowed  dead, 
Who  nobly  here  thy  flag  unfurled, 
Triumphant  'mid  a  struggling  world, 

O  Freedom  !  from  thy  native  sky, 
While  nations  pour  the  plaintive  cry, 
And  Vengeance  blacks  with  flame  and  blood 
The  ruins  of  the  wise  and  good  ; 


72  MAGYAR'S    HOPE. 

Again  to  man  his  rights  restore, 
Redress  the  wrongs  his  griefs  deplore, 
O'er  all  the  earth  thy  glorious  reign  extend, 
Truth,  Justice  prosper,  and  Oppression  end. 

Phila.,  Dec.  1849. 


TO  JOHN  S.  HART,  ESQ., 

PRINCIPAL    OF    THE    EDGEHILL    ACADEMY,  N.  J. 

WHEN  the  last  splendor  of  retiring  day 
Sheds  o'er  the  west  its  faint  but  fairest  ray  ; 
The  mournful  bard,  by  stern  misfortune  drivenr 
With  rapture  turns  to  hail  the  smiles  of  heaven. 
Oh,  hadst  but  thou  from  childhood's  happy  date, 
But  led  his  steps  to  wisdom's  fair  estate ; 
And  taught  him  then  celestial  claims  to  view 
In  nature's  mountains,  or  her  morning  dew ; 
How  brighter  far  had  earth-born  beauties  been, 
By  fancy  painted,  when  by  genius  seen  ? 
But  fortune  frowned,  and  folly  led  the  way 
From  wisdom's  path,  to  error's  clouded  sway. 
His  buoyant  steps  in  rayless  regions  trod 
From  science'  reign,  and  all  the  charms  of  God. 
No  mind  enlightened,  and  no  love  sincere, 
Stayed  the  dark  progress  of  his  young  career. 
Alone  and  lost  on  life's  tempestuous  wave 
He  saw  not  glory,  o'er  oblivion's  grave ; 
Till  angry  heaven  from  the  clouded  sky 


74  TO      JOHN      S  .       HART,     ESQ. 

Let  the  red  vengeance  of  its  fury  fly  ; 

When  quick  through  darkness  flaming  from  afar, 

Shone  the  bright  radiance  of  her  morning  star ; 

And  all  the  powers  of  the  soul  within, 

That  had  in  darkness  and  in  error  been, 

Lit  by  that  ray,  beheld  the  illumined  mind, 

Gazed  on  that  star,  and  left  the  world  behind. 

But  oh,  how  huge  the  angry  billows  rose 

Like  demons  then  his  progress  to  oppose  ! 

While  darkening  clouds,  before  the  tempest  driven, 

Obscured  the  light  that  led  his  way  to  heaven. 

But  youthful  genius,  nurtured  by  thy  care, 

No  ills  like  these  in  future  life  shall  bear ; 

Nor  e'er  misfortune's  blighting  curse  control 

The  budding  beauties  of  the  aspiring  soul. 

Beneath  thy  sway  fraternal  love  shall  bloom ; 

-Charms  that  shall  change  the  darkness  of  our  doom  ; 

Buds  that  shall  blush  beneath  their  native  sky, 

To  deck  the  wreath  that  science  hangs  on  high. 

But  where  will  genius,  from  its  heavenly  height, 

Turn  to  the  scenes  remembered  with  delight ; 

Arid  soar  with  rapture  from  its  lofty  sphere, 

To  pay  the  tribute  of  devotion's  tear  ? 

Where  will  the  bard,  when  slow  his  strains  shall  swell 

With  pensive  numbers  from  his  plaintive  shell, 

Turn  with  the  tear  of  transport  in  his  eye, 


TO      JOHN      S  .      HART,      ESQ.  75 

To  sound  the  notes  of  softest  symphony  ? 
Where,  but  to  thee,  the  guardian  of  their  youth, 
That  ever  guided,  through  the  paths  of  truth, 
To  honor's  prize,  at  glory's  glittering  goal, 
The  charm  of  wisdom,  and  the  aspiring  soul  ? 
Yes,  oft  will  genius  towering  in  her  flight, 
Stoop  to  the  scenes  remembered  with  delight, 
Gaze  o'er  the  past,  and  all  those  charms  renew, 
Where  science'  buds  first  blossomed  to  her  view. 
Then  turn  to  bless  thy  life's  last  lingering  ray, 
Still  faintly  nickering  in  its  mortal  clay, 
And  strew  thy  pathway  through  the  vale  of  years, 
With  flowers  moistened  with  affection's  tears. 

Natchez,  Van.  1841. 


ELEGY 

TO   THE    MEMORY   OF   A   LADY   OF    PHILADELPHIA. 

"  Oh !  ever  beauteous,  ever  friendly,  tell, 
Is  it  in  heaven  a  crime  to  love  too  well  7" 

POPE. 

YE  in  the  spring  of  life,  whose  hearts  are  gay, 

Who  tread  exulting  on  your  flowery  way, 

Where  swelling  buds  that  future  fruits  foretell, 

Invite  your  visions  and  your  hopes  to  dwell, 

Oh !  yet  while  on  your  cheek  the  bloom  appears, 

And  beam  your  eyes  undimmed  by  sorrow's  tears, 

Chase  the  bright  phantoms  that  your  hopes  employ, 

And  reap  the  raptures  of  a  promised  joy  ; 

For  ah  !  when  clasped  those  fleeting  forms  evade 

The  soft  embrace,  and  vanished  into  shade. 

Bright  be  your  hopes,  and  sweet  the  fruits  they  bring, 

With  oft  returns  to  all  the  charms  of  spring. 

O'er  your  bright  path  may  ne'er  the  tempest  blast 

Too  rudely  rush,  or  darkening  clouds  be  cast, 

To  waste  the  fruits,  or  crush  the  budding  flowers 

That  deck  your  pathway,  and  delight  your  hours. 

Oh  !  were  it  mine,  upon  your  forms  divine, 


ELEGY. 

One  heavenly  radiance  should  for  ever  shine ; 

And  all  the  bliss  that  earth  could  e'er  impart, 

Should  charm  your  vision,  and  delight  your  heart. 

But  ah  !  how  rudely  doth  the  storm  reveal 

The  bleeding  hearts  of  agony  that  feel 

The  treasured  love,  for  years  in  silence  nursed, 

By  the  rude  shock  of  disappointment  cursed, 

And  all  that  once  was  beautiful  and  fair 

Sink  the  sad  wreck  of  anguish  and  despair — 

Thorns,  brambles  spring  where  flowers  bloomed  before, 

Bright  hope  departs,  and  joy  beams  no  more  ; 

Faith,  love,  and  constancy  together  go 

With  poignant  pain,  and  unremitting  woe, 

And  the  fond  heart,  with  heaven's  etherial  fires, 

Sinks  to  the  grave,  and  with  its  grief  expires. 

0  ye  who  nursed  the  only  hope  of  years, 

With  anxious  joys  and  alternate  fears  ; 

Saw  the  young  form  increasing  grace  disclose 

In  active  vigor,  or  in  sweet  repose  ; 

Beheld  your  cares  in  ripening  years  repaid 

By  woman's  bliss,  in  woman's  charms  arrayed, 

Devoted  duty  bound  by  filial  love, 

And  all  that  e'er  a  parent  soul  could  move ; 

Ye  felt  the  pang,  but  ye  can  ne'er  reveal 

The  poignant  griefs  not  future  years  can  heal  ; 


ELEGY. 


When  o'er  the  bright  spirit  of  that  cherished  form, 
Passed  the  dark  shadow  of  the  blighting  storm  ; 
And  sank  untimely,  in  meridian  bloom, 
'Mid  shrouding  sorrow,  to  the  silent  tomb, 
The  cherished  solace  of  your  future  years, 
That  change  to  anguish,  and  returned  but  tears. 

The  grave  has  closed  upon  the  early  dead, 

And  bitter  tears  have  o'er  that  grave  been  shed  ; 

But  deep  are  the  slumbers  of  the  dead  who  sleep 

And  ne'er  shall  wake,  nor  know  the  tears  ye  weep. 

Closed,  and  for  ever,  are  those  beaming  eyes, 

Love's  brilliant  temple,  and  its  paradise  ! 

And  that  crushed  heart,  within  its  dark  retreat, 

Shall  feel  no  more  its  pulse,  or  its  heat. 

The  birds  will  come,  with  the  return  of  spring, 

And  to  that  tomb  their  vocal  offering  bring ; 

There  sylvan  songs  will  swell  in  every  grove, 

Their  little  hearts  will  throb  with  ardent  love ; 

And  on  the  boughs,  where  hangs  their  little  nest, 

They'll  find  a  home,  a  refuge,  and  a  rest ; 

And  with  the  dawn  of  morning's  earliest  ray, 

They'll  plume  their  pinions,  and  attune  their  lays, 

And  lure  aloft,  while  hovering  in  the  sky, 

Their  timid  young  on  trembling  wings  to  fly. 

The  spring's  bright  blossoms  on  that  grave  will  bloom, 


ELEGY.  70 

And  weeping  nature  beautify  her  tomb  ; 
But  these  will  fade,  and  lingering  wither  there 
Where  bloomed  their  beauty  to  perfume  the  air ; 
And  winter  rude  will  o'er  their  dwelling  sweep, 
Where  buried  beauty  with  the  flowers  sleep, 
And  'mid  the  moan  of  wailing  winds  and  sleet, 
Enshroud  their  relics  with  his  winding-sheet. 
And  that  fair  form,  within  its  house  of  clay, 
Shall  never  greet  the  glories  of  the  day ; 
Shall  ne'er  inhale  the  morn's  refreshing  breeze, 
Nor  view  the  springtime  foliage  of  the  trees  ; 
Shall  never  crop  the  blooming  flowers  that  bear 
Their  fragrant  odors  to  perfume  the  air; 
Shall  never  hear  the  warbler's  swelling  voice 
Make  blooming  bowers  and  the  woods  rejoice  ; 
But  there  for  ever  'neath  the  incumbent  sod 
That  form  shall  rest — its  spirit  with  its  God. 

And  he,  whose  strains  in  mournful  tunes  have  sung 

The  sad  misfortunes  of  the  fair  and  young  ; 

And  died  unheeded  in  the  morning  blast, 

That  o'er  the  wreck  of  cherished  prospects  past, 

As  fragrant  odors  breathed  by  dying  flowers 

Crushed  by  the  breath  of  Winter's  chilling  hours — 

E'en  he  will  sleep  as  sleeps  the  early  dead, 

Whose  hopes  have  perished,  and  whose  hearts  have  bled ; 


80  ELEGY. 

But  o'er  his  tomb  shall  never  pitying  flow 
The  sighs  of  sorrow  or  the  tears  of  woe  ; 
Or  to  his  grave  deploring  beauty  come, 
To  bring  her  offering,  and  bedew  his  tomb  ; 
But,  lowly  laid  within  his  humble  grave, 
The  rank  wild  grass  will  o'er  his  relics  wave, 
And,  whispering  sighs  unto  the  midnight  air, 
Sing  the  sad  dirge  of  him  who  slumbers  there 

Phila.,  Feb.  23,  1851. 


THE   MESSAGE. 

Go  tell  them  that  I  am  not  dead, 
Though  hope  is  faint,  and  youth  has  fled  ; 
And  o'er  the  wreck  of  love  and  years, 
Remain  but  bitter  pangs  and  tears. 
Go  tell  them  that  my  heart  was  gay, 
That  flowers  thronged  my  happy  way  *, 
That  earth  to  me  was  bright  and  fair, 
With  love  and  rapture  everywhere ; 
That  Nature  formed  my  soul  for  love 
Of  all  that's  bright  in  heaven  above, 
Of  all  that's  fair  on  earth  below  ; 
And  bade  me  on  my  journey  go, 
And  gather  all  the  rapture  here, 
That  makes  an  Eden  of  our  sphere. 
And  I  went  forth  with  childish  glee  ; 
1  saw  the  wild  flower  and  the  bee  ; 
I.  saw  the  busy  wanderer  fly 
To  opening  buds  of  every  dye. 
I  said  to  him,  "  the  world  is  fair, 
You  freely  wander  everywhere, 
4 


82  THEMESRA  0  K  - 

And  all  the  sweets  of  nature  share." 
"  Oh  !  yes,  but  moths  invade  our  store, 
And  then  we  grieve,  and  toil  no  more." 
I  saw  the  moth,  a  beauteous  thing, 
Float  by  upon  its  downy  wing  ; 
It  seemed  as  happy  as  could  be, 
Said  I,  "  the  world  is  fair  to  thee." 
"  Oh  !  yes,  the  world  is  very  dear, 
And  all  is  bright  and  pleasant  here ; 
But  treach'rous  things  that  ne'er  can  share 
The  bliss  we  feel,  our  lives  ensnare." 
And  as  she  spoke,  fast  in  a  net, 
Her  gaudy  wings  she  heedless  set ; 
And  struggling  wildly,  round  and  round, 
Her  wings  in  webs  she  firmly  bound. 
When  from  his  lair  the  spider  came, 
And  gazed  exulting  on  his  game. 
I  cried,  "  You  ugly !  cruel  thing ! 
What  ills  upon  the  earth  you  bring ! 
What  harm  did  that  poor  little  fly, 
That  thus  you  should  it  doom  to  die  ? " 
He  looked  askaunt :  "  Pray,  who  are  you  ? 
And  what  have  you  with  me  to  do  1 
My  Master  taught  me  how  to  weave, 
My  net  to  spread,  and  where  to  leave. 
And  he  is  wise,  and  he  is  good, 


T  H  E      M  E  S  S  A  G  E  .  83 

To  send  to  me  this  simple  food." 
Just  as  he  spoke,  a  wasp  flew  by, 
He  caught  the  spider's  eager  eye, 
And  as  he  reckless  stopped  to  light, 
He  feigned  to  feel  a  horrid  fright ; 
He  flapped  his  wings,  and  round  he  flew, 
As  though  he'd  break  the  web  in  two. 
"  Ha  !  ha !  "  the  spider  cried  with  glee, 
"  You  now  belong,  Sir  Wasp,  to  me." 
With  that,  he  went  the  wasp  to  wind 
Within  his  web,  and  firmer  bind. 
But  as  he  strove,  with  cautious  way, 
He  found  himself  the  mason's  prey, 
Who  thus  addressed  his  artful  foe  : 
"  You,  spider,  shall  to  prison  go ; 
Within  my  house,  my  little  brood 
Will  spring  to  life,  and  find  their  food  ; 
And  I  have  built  thy  prison  well, 
And  one  adjoining  every  cell, 
Of  tempered  clay,  securely  made, 
Where  I  my  embryo  young  have  laid." 
With  that,  away  the  mason  flew, 
And  I  from  this  the  moral  drew : 
Behold  the  spider,  wasp,  and  bee, 
God  cares  for  them  as  well  as  thee  ; 
He  fitted  each  for  worldly  strife, 


84  T  H  R      M  E  S  S  A  G  E  . 

And  gave  them  wisdom  with  their  life, 
Each  to  its  sphere  adapted  well ; 
But  why  so  fitted  none  can  tell. 
It  is  enough  for  man  to  know 
That  Wisdom  rules  o'er  all  below, 
That  'tis  for  mortals  to  obey, 
Not  ask  the  why  of  Nature's  way ; 
That  God  directs,  and  all  things  tend, 
As  he  designed — unto  his  end. 

Phtta.,  1850. 


GOD'S   WISDOM. 

ONE  end  alike  to  all  will  come, 

'Tis  Wisdom's  wise  decree. 
Ah !  who  would  shun  the  silent  doom 

That  sets  the  spirit  free ; 
When  severed  from  each  earthly  form, 

And  unpolluted  fly, 
Above  the  world's  obscuring  storm, 

Our  spirits  to  the  sky. 

For,  oh  !  believe  in  God  supreme, 

In  wisdom,  and  in  love ; 
Nor  Mercy  as  a  demon  deem 

Descended  from  above ; 
That  God's  own  spirit  breathed  in  man, 

Can  ne'er  polluted  be, 
But  stainless  as  it  first  began, 

Lives  to  eternity ! 

Go,  wing  thy  flight  to  realms  on  high, 
Through  worlds  unnumbered  rove  ; 


86  GOD'SWISDOM. 

See  endless  systems  in  the  sky, 
God's  wisdom  and  his  love ; 

And  learn  what  mortals  ne'er  can  teach  ; 
The  holy  faith  that's  given 

To  aid  thy  soul  on  high  to  reach 
And  fix  its  hope  on  heaven. 

Louisville,  May,  1851. 


HAPPINESS. 


*' Happiness  is  the  thing  adapted  to  our  present  condition,  and  to  the 
nature  of  our  being-,  as  a  compound  of  body  and  soul;  it  is  sought  for  by 
various  means,  and  with  great  eagerness ;  but  it  often  lies  much  more  within 
our  reach  than  we  are  apt  to  imagine :  it  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  possession  of 
great  wealth,  of  great  power,  of  great  dominions,  of  great  splendor,  or  the 
unbounded  indulgence  of  any  one  appetite  or  desire ;  but  it  is  to  be  found  in 
moderate  possessions,  with  a  heart  tempered  by  religion  and  virtue,  for  the 
enjoyment  of  that  which  God  has  bestowed  upon  us." 

CRABB. 

TEACH,  oh,  teach  my  soul  to  feel 

Thy  all-pervading  power ; 
Illume  it  with  thy  holy  light, 

In  every  waking  hour ; 

And  let  me  know  my  station  here, 

My  duty  unto  Thee, 
The  peaceful  path  to  yonder  sphere, 

Through  meek  humility. 

Oh !  purify  me  for  the  bliss 

That  Thou  canst  here  bestow ; 
And  let  this  torn  and  bleeding  heart 

Thy  hallowing  influence  know. 


88  HAP  1J  I  N  K  S  b  , 

Oh  !  let  it  joined  in  holy  love, 

Still  Thee  in  bliss  adore ; 
And  while  from  earth  it  looks  above-. 

Still  love  thee  more  and  more. 

For  Thou,  O  Lord,  hast  nerer  denied 

Thy  bounties  to  my  race, 
But  each  and  all,  through  every  age, 

Have  owned  Thy  heavenly  grace. 

While  to  Thy  humblest  creatures  here, 

I  see  Thy  bliss  extend, 
While  through  the  glorious  universe^ 

To  it  I  view  no  end. 

Oh  !  let  me  not  my  being  curse, 

Thy  offerings  here  discard  ; 
But  grateful  take  Thy  proffered  gifts, 

Thy  sacred  treasure  guard. 

And,  with  Thy  blessings,  let  me  make 

A  heavenly  mansion  here, 
Where  Thou  shalt  rule  with  love  supreme, 

Through  every  rolling  year. 


HAPPINESS.  89 

Then  teach  my  soul  to  soar  on  high, 

When  death  its  ties  shall  sever, 
To  seek  Thee  in  its  native  sky, 

To  live,  and  love  for  ever  ! 

Natchez,  Feb.  1849. 


MY   HOME. 

THE  wide  world  is  my  home, 

And  my  spirit  is  as  free, 
As  the  rapid  winds  that  roam 

O'er  the  ripples  of  the  sea. 

I  wing  my  silent  way, 

And  utter  not  a  sound, 
As  I  shed  a  transient  ray 

On  the  budding  beauties  round  ; 

But  thank  the  power  above, 

Who  placed  my  dwelling  here,  - 

And  gave  the  dower  of  love, 
As  the  blessing  of  my  sphere  ; 

For  I'm  happy  in  my  dream, 

And  the  endowment,  by  my  birth, 

Of  the  countless  boons  that  teem 
In  the  treasures  of  the  earth. 

Oh,  I  love  the  laughing  eye, 
And  the  smiling  lip  of  love, 

And  the  dimpled  cheek  with  dye 
Like  the  rosy  beams  above. 


MY     HOME,  91 

And  I  love  the  merry  voice, 

With  the  fairy  feet  that  come, 
When  the  happy  hearts  rejoice 

In  the  treasures  of  their  home. 

Oh,  I  would  not  give  this  earth, 
With  its  beauties  bright  and  fair, 

With  their  souls  of  love  and  mirth, 
For  the  regions  of  the  air. 

Let  seraphs  roam  the  sky, 

And  worship  in  their  sphere, 
But  let  me  never  die 

In  my  happy  dwelling  here  ; 

And  I'll  never  ask  to  soar 

Where  angels  fear  to  tread  ; 
But  for  ever  will  adore 

Where  my  soul  shall  never  dread. 

And  the  light  of  woman's  eye, 

With  her  beams  of  love  and  mirth, 

Shall  be  the  elysian  sky, 

And  the  heaven  of  my  earth, 

Phila.  Nov.  1849. 


TO    MISS    CLAY. 

THE  sun  may  depart,  and  his  splendor  may  fade, 

And   dark    tempests   gather    where    his   glories    have 

played. 
Yet   still  'neath  the  storm,    though   concealed  by    its 

wrath, 
Rolls  that  sun    with   its  brightness,  undimmed  in  its 

path.        . 

And  thus,  in  this  life  though  malignant  may  rave 
The  whirlwinds   that  sweep   o'er   the   good    and   the 

brave. 
Yet   more   bright    will    their   light,    like   that    planet, 

appear, 
When  the  tempest  has  passed,  and  the  heaven  is  clear. 

Then   cheer  thee,    sweet  flower,  though    dark  be    the 

gloom 
That   hangs    o'er   thy    brightness,    and    shadows    thy 

bloom ; 

For  the  radiance  of  virtues,  like  the  lustre  of  day, 
Will  beam  on  thy  prospects,  and  brighten  thy  way. 


TOMISSCLAY.  93 

And  oh,  when  the  germs  of  that  beautiful  form 
So  clouded  by  sorrow,  and  shadowed  by  storm, 
Shall  unfold  to  the  radiance  of  virtues  on  high, 
May  they  bloom  with  a  beauty  that  never  shall  die. 

May  they  brighten  the  pathway  of  glory  on  earth, 
Exalted  by  genius,  by  honor,  and  worth ; 
And  inspire  the  spirits  that  exultingly  vie, 
With  virtue  to  live,  or  with  glory  to  die. 

Louisville,  Sept.,  1850. 


NANNETTE. 

THE  happy  scenes  of  youth  will  fade, 

And  you  will  then  forget 
The  tune  that  once  for  me  you  played, 

When  you  were  young,  Nannette. 

You'll  think  of  youth's  glad  sunny  day, 

You  wished  would  never  set, 
When  you  could  laugh,  and  laughing  play, 

And  happy  be,  Nannette ! 

But  thou  hast  one  bright  gem  in  store, 

Where  every  beam  is  met, 
To  be  when  youthful  charms  are  o'er, 

A  treasure  to  Nannette, 

Oh  !  keep  the  heart  that  nature  gave, 

Within  thy  bosom  yet, 
As  the  pure  pearl  beneath  the  wave, 

A  blessing  to  Nannette. 

And  when  the  storms  of  life  shall  sweep, 
Will  come  no  sad  regret, 


NANNETTE.  95 


But  sweet  and  tranquil  will  she  sleep, 
The  innocent  Nannette ! 

And  when  thy  dream  of  earth  is  o'er, 
And  life's  bright  sun  has  set, 

With  love,  to  heaven  will  joyous  soar 
The  spirit  of  Nannette  ! 

Louisville,  Sept.  1850. 


ON    REVISITING    LEXINGTON. 

I  LOOKED  o'er  the  lawn  where  in  boyhood  I  played, 
I  gazed  'neath  the  grove  where  an  idler  I  strayed, 
But  no  young  forms  were  there,  and  no  shouting  and 

glee 
Rolled  back  o'er  my  soul,  from  the  grove  or  the  lea. 

I  roved  by  the  school-room  where  young  hearts  were 

gay> 

Where  the  first  beams  of  beauty  illumined  my  lay ; 
When  my  soul,  'neath  the  spell  of  their  magical  powers, 
First   breathed  its  soft  notes,  like  the  fragrance  from 
flowers. 

But  silence  pervaded  that  hall,  and  each  scene 
Where  the  happy  had  sported, — the  lovely  had  been  ; 
And  no  light  from  the  bright  and  the  beautiful  came 
To  illumine  my  spirit,  and  rekindle  its  name. 

Then  I  turned  to  the    "Meadows,"   to    view  the   fair 
flowers 


ON       KK- VI  SIT  ING       LEXINGTON.  97 

That  had   smiled  on  my  pathway,  and  brightened  my 

hours. 

But  affection  had  culled  them  ;  the  flowers,  full  blown, 
Had  been  borne  to  its  temple,  to  encircle  its  throne. 

Sad  scenes  of  the  pleasures,  now  fading  away, 

Of  the  warm  hearts  whose  ardor  once  brightened  my 

way, 

I  behold  thy  bright  prospects  of  boyhood  depart, 
But  the  charms  of  thy  Beauty  still  dwell  in  my  heart ; 

And  the  harp  that  her  radiance  awakened  to  fame, 
Still  resounds  with  her  virtues,  and  re-echoes  her  name ; 
The  sweet  spell  of  its  song,  and  the  theme  of  its  story, 
That  enkindled  with  rapture,  and  guided  to  glory, 

Louisville,  April,  185L 


MUSINGS   BY   THE    SEA. 

THOUGH  ills  surround,  and  pains  abound, 

The  world  is  ever  turning; 
And  Hope  as  bright,  with  beaming  light, 

Is  still  for  ever  burning. 

Though  clouds  awhile  obscure  her  smile, 
Dull  darkness  o'er  us  throwing, 

Yet  still  her  beams,  in  Fancy's  dreams, 
Are  all  as  brightly  glowing. 

When  Carrie's  ray  illumed  my  way, 
The  world  was  fair  before  me ; 

And  Beauty  shone  for  me  alone, 
With  all  her  radiance  o'er  me ; 

But  darkness  came,  and  beauty's  flame, 
With  all  its  beams,  departed ; 

I  saw  it  die — I  heaved  a  sigh — 
And  wiped  the  tear  that  started. 


MUSINGS      BY      THE      SEA.  99 

The  past  is  gone — the  ray  that  shone, 

May  never  shine  again  ; 
Yet  still  as  bright,  Hope  sheds  her  light, 

And  Fancy  holds  her  reign. 

And  I  am  as  free,  as  the  boundless  sea, 

The  world  is  wide  before  me, 
And  the  stars  on  high,  in  the  beauteous  sky, 

Are  sweetly  smiling  o'er  me. 

Shieldsborough,  Mi.,  May,  1845. 


MUSINGS   BY   THE    ROAD. 

UPON  the  coast  my  freedom  boast, 
Was  phantom  most  deceiving; 

By  Sorrow  bound  in  fetters  round, 
My  soul  is  ever  grieving. 

Of  all  bereft,  scarce  Hope  is  left, 

That  beacon  of  my  being. 
E'en  through  the  night  stern  spectres  fright, 

That  Fancy's  ever  seeing. 

Ah,  what  is  life  with  such  a  strife 

My  soul  for  ever  tearing  ? 
'Tis  scarcely  worth  its  pristine  earth — 

'Tis  scarcely  worth  the  wearing. 

But  let  it  last,  we  may  not  cast 

Away  the  doubtful  treasure. 
It  yet  may  be  unfettered,  free, 

The  future's  fondest  pleasure. 


MUSINGS      BY      THE      ROAD.  101 

Then  Hope,  awhile  my  soul  beguile, 

With  fancy,  paint  thy  vision  ; 
In  colors  bright,  with  pure  delight 

Disclose  thy  loved  Elysian. 

I  still  may  rove  thy  Paphian  grove, 

I  still  may  tune  my  lyre, 
The  only  gift  by  Beauty  left, 

To  last  till  life  expire. 

And  oh  !  should  then  a  lingering  note 
Around  its  chords  forsaken  float ; 
And  nymphs  and  naiads  gather  there, 
To  twine  with  wreaths  their  golden  hair ; 
May  all  its  tone  of  sweetness  tell 
To  Beauty's  ear  that  loved  it  well, 
The  secret  charm,  the  magic  power, 
Of  Fayette's  fairest  "  Meadow"  Flower. 

Pearlington,  Mi.,  May,  1845. 


I  WILL  REMEMBER  THEE. 


WHEN  eyes  were  bright,  and  steps  were  light, 

That  trod  the  flowery  lea ; 
And  throbbed  the  heart  that  grieved  to  part, 

I  then  remembered  thee. 

When  brows  were  fair,  and  golden  hair 

Rolled  down  in  ringlets  free ; 
Or  roses  bound  with  wreaths  around, 

I  then  remembered  thee. 

When  beauty's  breast,  by  friendship  pressed, 

Heaved  like  the  swelling  sea, 
And  crimson  cheek  did  glowing  speak, 

I  then  remembered  thee. 

When  crystal  tears  that  love  endears, 

Did  from  their  fountains  flee  ; 
And  rapture's  sigh  in  sorrow  die, 

I  then  remembered  thee. 


I      WILL      REMEMBER      THEE.  103 

When  time  had  sped  the  hopes  that  fled, 

With  joy  that  ne'er  can  be  ; 
I  sighed  in  vain,  with  secret  pain, 

And  still  remembered  thee. 

When  beauty's  bloom,  through  sorrow's  gloom, 

My  lingering  soul  shall  see, 
Ere  flees  to  death  my  struggling  breath, 

I  will  remember  thee, 


OH!   THEN   REMEMBER   ME! 


WHEN  fades  afar  the  guiding  star 

O'er  life's  uncertain  sea ; 
And  billows  dark  bear  on  the  bark, 

Oh  !  then  remember  me  ! 

When  lightnings  flash,  when  forests  crash, 

And  shrieking  eagles  flee  ; 
When  mountains  mock  the  thunder's  shock, 

Oh  !  then  remember  me  ! 

When  howling  loud,  with  lowering  cloud, 

Like  dreadful  drapery, 
The  winds  shall  sweep  the  raging  deep, 

Oh  !  then  remember  me  ! 

When  through  the  storm,  the  vessel's  form 

Flits  fast  and  fearfully, 
With  riven  mast,  before  the  blast, 

Oh  !  then  remember  me  ! 


OH!      THKX       REMEMBER      MR.  105 


When  winds  shall  cease,  and  waves  in  peace, 

With  murmuring  melody, 
Sigh  round  the  shore  they  shook  before, 

Oh  !  then  remember  me  ! 

When  on  the  reef  with  silent  grief, 

Thy  tearful  eye  shall  see 
The  shattered  wreck,  deserted  deck, 

Oh  I  then  remember  me  ! 


TO  MRS.    L****  P***. 


THOU  hast  come  to  my  soul  like  the  sweet  smile  of  spring, 
When  the  bright  flowers  bloom,  and  the  wild  birds  sing, 
And  the  zephyrs'  breath,  with  their  rich  perfume, 
Bears  the  warbler's  song  through  the  sylvan  gloom. 

Thou  hast  come  to  my  soul  like  a  morning  beam, 
To  the  rushing  waves  of  a  mountain  stream, 
When  they  dash  o'er  the  rocks  on  their  rugged  way, 
With  their  laughing  noise,  and  their  dancing  spray. 

Thou  hast  come  to  my  soul  like  a  vision  bright, 
To  a  pilgrim  lost  in  the  gloom  of  night, 
When  an  angel  form  guides  his  lonely  way, 
To  undying  love  and  eternal  day. 

Thou  hast  come  like  the  spell  of  my  early  years ; 
Like  the  smile  of  love  through  her  falling  tears  ; 
As  the  blush  of  morn  with  its  gems  bedewed, 
To  a  heart  revived  and  a  hope  renewed. 


TO       M  R  8  .       L  *  *  *  *        P  *  *  *.  107 

And  bright  in  the  depths  of  this  spirit  shall  dwell, 
With  thy  beauty  concealed  as  the  pearl  in  its  shell, 
A  devotion  undying,  that  for  ever  shall  keep 
Thy  form  in  this  heart,  as  that  pearl  in  the  deep. 

Lenox,  Mass.,  August,  1851. 


THE    FIRST   WOMAN. 

WITHOUT  the  fond  and  dutiful, 

The  lovely,  and  the  wise, 
With  soul  as  good,  as  beautiful, 

An  angel  from  the  skies, 
Oh,  what  were  earth  ?  since  Eden  bowers, 

No  joy  to  Adam  gave, 
Till  Eve  appeared  among  the  flowers, 

Like  Venus  from  the  wave ! 

Yes,  earth  with  all  its  virgin  charms, 

But  bloomed  for  man  in  vain, 
Till  Adam  clasped  within  his  arms, 

The  antidote  of  pain ! 
Then  nature  seemed  with  beauty  clad, 

And  bliss  was  everywhere  ; 
Such  was  the  spell  that  woman  had, 

When  first  appeared  the  fair. 

Then  fragrance  breathed  from  every  flower, 
And  everv  bird  did  sino-. 


G> 

And  every  bird  did  sing, 


THE      FIRST      WOMAN.  109 

And  cloudless  passed  the  blissful  hours, 

As  one  perpetual  spring ; 
So  nature  bloomed  when  Beauty  came, 

Like  sunbeams  from  above, 
To  light  the  soul's  immortal  flame 

With  an  undying  love ! 

Then  Beauty's  breast  was  like'the  deep, 

When  all  is  clear  on  high, 
And  calmly  mirrored  in  it  sleep 

The  glories  of  the  sky ; 
And  on  her  cheek  the  crimson  glow 

Of  nature's  rosy  hue, 
When  morn  reflects  on  all  below, 

Her  blushes  bathed  in  dew. 

Then  brightly  from  her  soft  blue  eye, 

As  love's  cerulean  throne, 
The  spotless  spirit  of  the  sky, 

With  heavenly  radiance  shone ; 
And  as  the  morn  through  vernal  showers, 

Thus  robed  with  golden  hair, 
And  unadorned,  in  Eden  bowers, 

First  blushed  the  blooming  fair ! 

Louisville,  May,  1851. 


THE    DECEIVED. 

How  soon  doth  the  soul  from  its  vision  awake, 
And  love  its  last  flight  from  the  sad  spirit  take, 
When  it  views  the  deceiver  disclosed  in  his  guile, 
And  a  curse  curl  the  lips  that  were  wreathed  with  a 
smile. 

Oh !  thus  it  is  ever  when,  too  faithful,  the  trust 
Is  received  by  the   selfish,  and  trodden  to  dust ; 
It  dreamed  but  of  joy,  it  lived  but  for  bliss, 
But  awakened  exchanges  for  curses,  each  kiss. 

How  fondly  it  doted  ?  how  confiding  believed  ? 
While  worth  passed  in  silence,  and  hope  was  deceived. 
Oh !  thus  it  is  ever,  and  thus  it  will  be, 
When  passion  rules  Beauty,  and  folly's  set  free. 

Too  late  will  the  fair  in  their  sorrow  discern, 
Where  wisdom  should  govern,  and  beauty  should  learn  ; 
That  the  soul  of  devotion  and  virtue  stands  firm, 
Where  the  sycophant  crouches  and  crawls  as  the  worm. 


THE      DECEIVED.  Ill 

And  at  last  when  deceived  to  the  truth  she  returns, 

How  remorseful  the  anguish  of  memory  burns  ? 

To  behold  the  bright  gems  that  she  spurned   in  her 

pride, 
Her  soul  wed  to  evil — a  fiend  at  her  side  ; 

The  taunt  of  each  foe,  at  her  triumph  that  grieved, 
Who  envied  her  beauty,  her  rapture  believed ; 
With  only  this  solace  her  grief  to  restrain, 
The  pity  of  goodness  that  grieves  at  her  pain. 

Take  heed  of  the  serpents  that  crawl  but  to  climb, 
Whose  pathway  is  marked  with  the  sycophant's  slime, 
Where  the  gay  and  the  heedless  unconscious  may  stray, 
And  fall  though  the  prudent  should  point  out  the  way. 

Phila.,  Dec.  1849. 


THE   WOUNDED   SOUL, 

I  WOULD  not  wound  the  spirit 
That  is  wedded  to  its  woe ; 

I  would  not  hide  the  merit 

Of  the  bleeding  heart  I  know  ; 

But  a  soothing  balm  I'd  pour  ; 

And  a  blessing  I  would  bring, 
To  shed  its  brightness  o'er 

This  swreet  flower  of  the  spring'. 

The  clouds  I  would  dispel ; 

And  the  beauty  of  this  flower, 
In  its  brightness  should  excel, 

And  the  virtues  of  its  power. 

I  would  cherish  it  for  aye 

From  the  fountain  of  my  heart ; 
And  my  spirit's  brightest  ray 

From  it  never  should  depart ; 


THE      WOUNDED      SOUL.  113 

For  the  wounded  soul  is  mine  ; 

And  its  agony  I  know, 
For  the  sorrows  that  are  thine, 

Feed  the  fountain  of  its  woe. 

Natchez,  Feb.  1849. 


TO  A  COQUETTE. 


WHEN  thou  shalt  from  thy  dream  awake, 

And  see  the  thing  thou  art, 
'Twill  more  than  scorn  thy  spirit  sting — 

'Twill  break  thy  bleeding  heart ! 

Thou  wilt  as  in  a  mirror  see 

What  once  was  deemed  most  fair, 

Reflected  from  its  surface  smooth, 
The  image  of  despair. 

Disrobed  of  Art's  false  tinsels  then, 
Whose  charms  no  more  will  cheat, 

Thou'lt  learn  that  all  that  Virtue  gave, 
Is  blighted  by  deceit. 

And  all  the  votive  offerings  then, 

That  Flattery  may  bring, 
Will  add  but  anguish  to  thy  pang, 

As  poison  to  llie  Nlinu'. 


10       A       COQUETTE.  115 

In  vain  did  Candor  plainly  speak, 

In  vain  did  Friendship  plead, 
'Twas  thine  to  scorn  what  Mercy  sent, 

To  suffer  and  to  bleed  ! 

Go,  Pity's  tears  may  flow  for  thee, 

And  Friendship  silent  sigh, 
To  see  to  ruin  virtues  fall, 

Once  fitted  for  the  sky ; 

To  hear  the  taunt  of  bitter  Scorn, 

Pride's  triumph  in  thy  fall, 
While  Pity's  pensive  silent  look 

Adds  anguish  to  thy  gall. 

I  would  have  borne  thee  up  to  heaven, 

From  hell's  dark  depths  below, 
And  changed  to  thee  an  angel's  bliss, 

For  all  a  demon's  woe. 

Then,  in  the  dark  and  dreadful  storm 

That  o'er  thy  soul  shall  sweep, 
Recall  the  guardian  spirit's  form 

That  warned  thee  of  the  deep. 


116  TO      A      COQUETTE. 

And  own  thy  own  perverted  pride, 
Kept  from  their  native  sky, 

The  noblest  charms  of  woman's  worth, 
To  suffer  and  to  die  ! 

Louisville,  May,  1851. 


TO  THE  BEAUTY  OF  A  DREAM, 

ADIEU  !  my  dear  delusive  dream, 
The  stars  still  smile  above  me, 

That  beaming  eyes  of  angels  seem 
To  pity  and  to  love  me. 

The  world's  deceit  may  crush  my  heart, 
And  down  to  earth  may  bear  me ; 

But  never  shall  the  syren's  art 
From  dreams  of  rapture  tear  me. 

Though  but  in  sport  she  win  true  worth 

A  moment  to  devotion ; 
And  whisper  vows  with  secret  mirth, 

Unfeeling  of  emotion  ; 

Yet  will  the  soul,  unsullied,  rise 

To  beauties  far  above  it, 
The  smiling  angels  in  the  skies, 

To  pity  and  to  love  it. 


118          TO      THE       b  E  A  U  T  Y       OF       A       D  K  E  A  M 

Then  tare  thee  well !  thy  syren  art 
That  once  with  magic  bound  it, 

Shall  ne'er  again  deceive  my  heart, 
Or  with  thy  charms  surround  it. 

Louisville,  April  2Sth,  1841. 


THE    SOUL. 

O  YES,  'tis  the  soul  that,  for  ever  the  same, 
Beams  on,  with  its  brightness,  through  glory  and  shame  ; 
And  cheers,  with  its  charms,  and  the  spell  of  its  power, 
The  heart  that  is  cast  in  its  desolate  hour ; 

That  lingers  for  aye  round  its  idol  of  love, 
Though  beam  not  a  ray  from  its  heaven  above  ; 
And  clings,  with  devotion  that  will  never  depart, 
An  angel  of  mercy  round  its  desolate  heart. 

Oh  !  give  me  a  soul  that  can  feel  for  my  own, 

That  will  dwell  in  this  bosom  as  its  temple  and  throne, 

And  beam,  on  its  altar,  the  vestal  of  love, 

Though  ruin  reign  round,  and  the  tempest  above  ; 

That  in  brightness  will  linger,  in  beauty  beam  on ; 
When  the  syren  has  faded,  and  her  triumphs  have  gone 
And  but  anguish  remains,  while  her  glories  depart, 
To  shroud  with  its  darkness  a  desolate  heart. 

Phil  a.,  August,  1850. 


TO 


THOU  art  my  soul,  my  idol,  and  my  song, 
All  that  of  heaven  to  human  hearts  belong. 
I  gaze  on  thee,  and  o'er  my  spirit  beam 
The  rays  angelic  of  a  holy  dream, 
Where  all  of  earth  and  all  of  heaven  combine, 
That  can  in  human  make  thy  sex  divine. 
- 

Oh  !  let  me  worship  at  so  pure  a  shrine, 
My  love  the  offering,  and  my  spirit  thine ; 
And  dwell  on  earth,  of  heaven  unenvious  grown, 
My  mind  thy  sceptre,  and  my  heart  thy  throne ; 
Where  thou,  the  goddess  of  my  soul  supreme, 
Shalt  dwell  the  angel  of  that  holy  dream. 

Natchez,  Jan.  1851. 


FORGET  THEE? 

FORGET  thee  ?  never  !  years  may  roll  away, 
Sweet  pleasures  pass,  and  hope  itself  decay ; 
But  'mid  the  wreck  that  time  and  grief  shall  bring, 
Thy  smiling  image  round  my  heart  shall  cling, 
And  memory  still  my  sweetest  solace  be, 
While  life  remains,  and  love  remembers  thee. 

Oh  !  can  the  heart  forget  its  early  love, 
The  planets  cease  their  radiance  from  above, 
The  buds  to  bloom  beneath  the  ardent  sun, 
Or  youth  to  worship  ere  its  hope  is  won  ? 
As  soon  the  spirit  of  immortal  light, 
Its  beams  extinguish  in  eternal  night. 

No,  no,  the  immortal  soul  must  die  ; 

Its  home,  the  planets  in  the  boundless  sky ; 

Earth's  beauties  cease,  and  all  their  vernal  bloom 

For  ever  vanish  in  chaotic  gloom ; 

And  death  the  face  of  ruined  nature  shade, 

Ere  love  shall  perish,  or  thine  image  fade. 

Lenox,  Mass.,  July,  1851. 


TO   MISS   H.    E.    S.   OF    BOSTON. 


WHEN  winter's  rude  blast  o'er  the  mountains  shall  blow  ; 
And,  enrobed  like  a  bride,  in  her  mantle  of  snow, 
New  England  lie  wrapped,  with  her  hill  and  her  dale, 
Concealed  in  the  folds  of  her  beautiful  veil, 
Then  far,  far  away  from  the  sweet  myrtle  grove, 
Where  the  mocking-bird  sings  by  the  nest  of  the  dove, 
Will  I  come  to  the  clime  where  thy  presence  shall  be 
As  the  sunlight  of  heaven  and  beauty  to  me ! 

Oh  !  yes,  though  the  birds  from  thy  bowers  depart, 

All  lonely  and  silent  as  the  depths  of  my  heart ; 

And  winter's  rude  blasts  through  the  leafless  boughs 

sigh, 
As  he   howls    o'er  the  mountains,    and    darkens  the 

sky, 

Yet,  loved  one,  that  light  that  illumines  the  soul, 
That  glows  at  the  equator  and  shines  at  the  pole, 
Will  make  the  blest  spot  where  thy  presence  shall  be, 
More  lovely  than  Eden — a  heaven  to  me ! 


123 


Then  list  when  the  wild  winds  of  winter  shall  sweep, 
And  thou  on  thy  pillow  sink  softly  to  sleep  ; 
And  remember  my  spirit,  and  invisible  form, 
Is  hid  in  the  darkness,  and  borne  on  the  storm  ; 
That  I  flee  from  the  world,  from  its  treacherous  tide, 
Its  wealth  and  ambition,  its  folly  and  pride, 
To  my  beacon  of  life,  to  the  noble  and  free  ; 
To  my  Eden  on  earth  —  to  my  heaven  in  thee  ! 

Cinn.y  September,  1851. 


THE    GARDEN. 

AN    ALLEGORY. 

A  GARDEN  sprung  in  a  lonely  vale, 
Its  bright  buds  bowed  to  the  passing  gale ; 
And  warbling  birds,  with  their  plumage  gay, 
Sang  their  carols  wild  through  the  livelong  day ; 
And  the  first  bright  beams  of  the  sun  that  rose, 
Roused  the  slumbering  buds  from  their  sweet  repose  ; 
And  zephyrs'  breath,  from  their  bosoms  fair, 
Shook  the  dazzling  dews  that  were  revelling  there, 
And  bore  the  sweets  of  the  ravished  flowers, 
Through  the  sylvan  shades  of  the  forest  bowers. 
The  wild  buds  woke  with  a  joyous  glee, 
And  danced  like  the  waves  of  a  beauteous  sea, 
With  their  varied  hues  of  the  brightest  dye, 
Reflected  far  through  the  summer  sky. 
And  seraphs  gazed  on  that  Eden  sight, 
With  its  heavenly  charms,  and  its  beauty  bright ; 
And  the  wild  bird's  song  through  the  region  clear, 
Arose  with  its  strains  to  the  seraphs'  ears. 


THE      GARDEN.  125 

And  angel  forms  round  that  garden  flew, 
That  far  in  the  depths  of  the  forest  grew, 
Where  the  lingering  sun  of  the  closing  day, 
Shed  the  brightest  hues  of  his  parting  rays. 
So  years  passed  by,  and  that  garden  sprung, 
Where  the  wild  bee  hummed,  and  the  bright  birds  sung. 
But  the  rude  beasts  came  to  that  garden  fair ; 
And  the  rose-bud  grew  as  the  serpent's  lair : 
Then  the  violets  ceased,  with  their  rich  perfume 
Through  the  sylvan  grots  of  the  forest  gloom  ; 
And  the  rose-buds  ceased,  and  each  fragrant  flower 
That  had  sprung  in  the  midst  of  that  garden  bower. 
The  wild  birds  fled  from  its  cool  retreat, 
And  its  flowery  shade  from  the  noonday  heat. 
And  the  eagle's  cry  and  the  vulture's  scream 
Were  the  omens  left  of  that  fairy  dream. 
So  that  spot  was  left  as  a  desert  waste, 
By  the  withering  breath  of  the  simoom  blast ; 
And  naught  remained  of  that  garden  fail- 
Save  a  lonely  tree  in  the  desert  there  ; 
For  the  birds  were  gone,  and  the  flowers  were  dead, 
And  the  beasts  afar  from  that  place  had  fled. 
But  still  that  tree  in  the  desert  grew — 
A  lonely  bird  to  its  branches  flew. 
Its  song  was  sweet  as  a  seraph's  tone, 
It  dwelt  in  that  tree,  and  that  tree  alone  ; 


126  THE      GARDEN. 

And  it  warbled  wild,  with  its  mimic  mirth, 
As  a  woodbine  sprung  from  the  barren  earth — 
Around  that  trunk,  and  around  that  tree, 
That  woodbine  grew,  with  the  wild-bird's  glee, 
And  formed  in  that  waste,  with  the  tree  and  its  flower, 
The  loveliest  spot  for  a  wild  bird's  bower. 


TO    A   BIRD. 


MY  bonny  bird,  'tis  bliss  to  me, 

To  see  thee  in  thy  sphere ; 
To  hear  thee  hail,  with  happy  glee, 

The  beauties  of  the  year. 

For,  oh  !  I  never  met  with  one 

So  sprightly  and  so  bright ; 
Whose  plumage  gave  unto  the  sun 

Such  hues  of  heavenly  light ; 

Whose  voice  sounds  so  sweet  to  me ; 

Whose  beauties  are  so  rare — 
My  bonny  bird,  with  thee  I'd  flee, 

And  all  thy  rapture  share. 

From  grove  to  grove  we'd  wing  our  way, 
Each  bower  a  home  would  be ; 

And  with  the  morning's  earliest  ray, 
I'd  swell  my  song  to  thee. 


128  TO       A       BIRD. 

And  when  his  light  far  in  the  west 

Would  melt  in  tears  away, 
Ere  sank  thy  smiling  soul  to  rest, 

I'd  pour  to  thee  my  lay. 

And  when  the  moon  was  'mid  the  sky, 

And  all  was  still  and  clear, 
Oh  !  then,  my  sweetest  song  I'd  try, 

To  captivate  thine  ear. 

No  sombre  clouds  should  shroud  our  sky, 
Nor  e'er  should  fade  our  flowers  ; 

We'd  fly  from  winter's  wrath  away, 
Afar  to  southern  bowers. 

Far  away  to  the  sunny  clime 
Where  grows  the  myrtle  grove, 

Where  blooms  the  orange  and  the  lime, 
On  rapid  wings  we'd  rove. 

And  to  some  island  of  the  deep, 
Where  purling  streamlets  flow, 

Where  scented  breezes  sighing  sweep, 
And  buds  for  ever  blow ; 

Where  heaven  serenely  smiles  above, 
And  all  is  bright  around  ; 


TO      A      BIRD.  129 

Where  naught  is  heard  but  songs  of  love, 
And  scenes  of  bliss  abound ; 

Oh  !  there,  my  bonny  bird,  should  be 

My  heaven  !  and  thy  home ! 
And  from  that  Eden  of  the  sea, 

I'd  never,  never  roam ! 

Phila.,  1850. 


TO  MISS  L.  V.   W. 

OF    PHILADELPHIA. 

OH  !   linger,  loved  lassie,  bright  bird  of  the  north  ! 

Flee  not  afar  till  the  flowers  put  forth. 

Ah  !  why  will  ye  wander  in  winter  away  ? 

Cold,  cold  is  your  climate — come,  sweet  lassie,  stay. 

The  peach  trees  are  budding — the  roses  in  bloom — 
The  sunshine's  succeeding  to  coldness  and  gloom— 
The  busy  bee  buzzes — the  humming-bird  flies — 
The  mock-bird  his  song  in  his  sweet  bower  tries. 

Then  give  us,  sweet  lassie,  oh  !  grant  us  awhile, 
That  eye  with  its  light,  and  that  lip  with  its  smile ! 
Come  dwell  with  the  bird,  and  the  bee,  and  the  flower, 
The  brightest,  and  sweetest,  in  their  own  sunny  bower. 

The  spring  buds  will  blossom — the  blithe  birds  will 

come — 
The  apple  be  fragrant  as  the  peach  or  the  plum — 


TO      MISS      L.      V.      W.  131 

The  jessamine  twine  round  the  forest  tall  tree ; 
And  all  nature  be  blooming  with  beauty  for  thee ! 

Then  linger,  loved  lassie,  bright  bird  of  the  north ! 
Till  thy  smile  be  reflected  from  heaven  and  earth, 
And  the  hues  of  the  morn,  and  the  even  shall  vie 
With  the  glow  on  thy  cheek,  and  the  light  in  thine  eye  ! 

Natchez,  Feb.  22,  1849. 


FAREWELL. 

FAREWELL  to  thee,  fairest, 
Thou  brightest  and  best, 
Farewell  to  the  dearest, 

Beloved  and  blest, 

Farewell  to  the  spirit  of  goodness  and  beauty, 
Sweet  idol  of  friendship,  devotion,  and  duty. 

Thou'lt  go  like  the  bright  star 

Of  evening  above, 
Thou  wilt  wander  afar 

To  thy  dwelling  of  love, 

And  bear  to  the  Elysium  thy  being  hath  blest, 
The  rapture  thy  radiance  hath  shed  o'er  the  west. 

And  the  soul  of  devotion 

Will  follow  thy  ray, 
As  its  guide  o'er  the  ocean 

The  light  of  its  way, 

To  the  Eden  of  beauty,  the  bower  of  worth, 
The  brightest,  the  sweetest,  the  dearest  of  earth. 


FAREWELL.  133 

Where  the  sounds  that  betoken 

Thy  triumph,  shall  swell 
Till  this  spirit  be  broken, 

Or  its  virtues  excel, 

And  the  fame  of  the  lone  one  survive  with  his  story, 
Inscribed  with  thy  virtues,  and  bright  with  thy  glory. 

Natchez,  March,  1849. 


THE  CHANGE. 

I  CANNOT  blame  thy  coldness  now  ; 

I  know  my  humble  state, 
Though  gazing  once  upon  thy  brow, 

I  struggled  with  my  fate. 

Oh !  then  'twas  sweet  to  think  of  thee, 

Amid  a  world  of  woe ; 
And  through  its  clouds  of  sorrow  see 

Thy  ray  of  rapture  glow. 

I  deemed  not  then  how  soon  would  fade 

That  light  of  heaven  away; 
That  gloomy  clouds  the  scene  would  shade, 

And  night  succeed  the  day. 

I  dreamed  when  all  was  darkness  round, 
That  star  still  shone  on  high— 

I  woke— and  with  my  vision  found 
It  vanished  from  the  sky  ! 


THE      CHANGE.  135 

And  where  sweet  spring  had  flowers  strown, 

And  all  was  bright  and  fair ; 
Where  birds  and  bees  had  fondly  flown 

Along  the  scented  air; 

The  chilling  blast  of  winter  blew, 

The  forest  murmured  round, 
And  far  and  wide  the  dead  leaves  flew, 

Rolled  rustling  on  the  ground. 

Thus  from  my  vision  roused,  I  wake, 

And  calmly  view  thee  now  ; 
While  winter's  blasts  too  rudely  break 

Upon  my  furrowed  brow. 

Thy  brilliant  ray  can  never  light 

The  darkness  of  this  soul ; 
Can  ne'er  dispel  the  clouds  of  night 

That  o'er  its  ruin  roll. 

But  precious  gem  of  beauty  rare, 

Thou  brightest  and  the  best ! 
Go,  with  thy  heavenly  radiance  share 

The  blessings  of  the  blest. 


136  THE      CHANGE. 


And  let  your  rays  united  shine 
O'er  all  the  beauteous  earth, 

To  light  unto  the  holy  shrine 
Of  virtue,  love,  and  worth  I 


Phila.,  Oct.  1849. 


THE    ANSWER. 


YES,  hope  has  fled,  ambition's  dead, 
There's  nothing  now  to  cheer  me, 
But  all  was  bright,  with  beauty's  light, 
When  thou,  sweet  girl,  wert  near  me. 

I  brought  thee  flowers  from  lovely  bowers, 
That  breathed  their  odors  round  thee  ; 
I  brought  the  lays  of  other  days, 
And  smiling  ever  found  thee. 

But  hope  has  fled — ambition's  dead — 
The  fragrant  flowers  have  faded  ; 
The  beauteous  light  that  beamed  so  bright, 
The  clouds  of  heaven  have  shaded. 

I  view  thee  now,  with  pallid  brow, 
Unmoved  I  heedless  hear  thee ; 
Oh,  once  'twas  sweet,  thine  eye  to  meet — • 
To  dwell  with  rapture  near  thee  ! 
6* 


138  THE      ANSWER. 

Oh !  why  so  strange,  so  cold  a  change  ? 
The  heaven  is  clear  above  thee  ; 
And  thou  art  bright  as  the  morning  light, 
To  the  faithful  hearts  that  love  thee. 

Ah,  is  it  I  alone  must  sigh  ? 
Oh  !  is  it  I  must  grieve  thee  ? 
Then  shall  depart,  this  saddened  heart, 
That  sighs  so  soon  to  leave  thee. 

But  here  'twill  bear,  with  constant  care, 
The  charms  that  once  could  cheer  me — 
The  inspiring  light  of  beauty  bright, 
When  thou,  sweet  girl,  wert  near  me  ! 

Phila.,  May  15,  1850. 


PERISHED   HOPES. 

LIFE  fades ;  love,  hope,  and  faith  depart ; 

And  now  the  shades  of  darkness  close 

Around  my  ruined  heart. 

No  longer  now  the  sweet  repose, 

My  bleeding  spirit  knows, 

That  lulled  it  in  its  early  years, 

Unconscious  of  its  woes. 

But  time,  like  magic,  brings  to  light 
What  was  before  unknown  ; 
And  shrouds  the  brightest  things  in  night, 
That  once  we  called  our  own. 

In  earlier  years,  when  love,  and  fame 
Gave  music  to  my  lyre, 
Ambition  sought  a  sounding  name, 
And  beauty's  kindling  fire  ; 

But  thorns  have  sprung  where  myrtles  grew, 
The  thistles  oust  the  bay  ; 
For  sorrow  o'er  the  enchantment  threw 
Its  darkness,  and  decay. 


140  PERISHED      HOPES. 

Not  e'en  the  ivy  springs  to  light, 

To  twine  the  mouldering  wall ; 

For  friendship  slumbers  'neath  the  night 

That  shrouds  with  ruin  all. 

So  fade  the  hopes  of  early  years ; 
.So  disappointment's  chill 
E'en  freezes  up  the  fountain  tears 
Of  feeling's  deepest  rill ; 

And,  with  its  blighting  winter  breath, 
Breathes  o'er  the  blooming  bowers, 
Where  hope  and  youth  once  twined  their  wreath 
Of  fancy's  fairest  flowers. 

Thus  let  them  fade,  and  withering  die, 
Since  feeling  now  is  dead ; 
And  hope  no  more  essays  to  fly, 
Or  rear  its  drooping  head. 

Thus  let  oblivion  o'er  them  sweep — 
We  all  have  but  to  die ; 
And  side  by  side  forgotten  sleep — 
A  wreck  of  nations  lie. 

Phila.,  Sept.  1849. 


TO   SUE, 

WHEN  fancy  has  fled,  and  the  spirit  is  dead, 
That  was  true  to  devotion  and  duty  ; 

The  heart  will  no  more  the  bright  idol  adore, 
That  it  worshipped  in  the  temple  of  beauty. 

And  mute  will  remain,  that  spirit  in  pain, 
That  awoke  with  the  fondest  emotion ; 

And  poured  its  soft  lays  to  the  beautiful  rays 
That  enkindled  its  flame  of  devotion. 

Then,  lady,  farewell !  for  ne'er  can  that  spell, 
Those  strains  from  this  spirit  awaken, 

That  slumbers  apart,  o'er  the  desolate  heart 
That  remains  'mid  its  ruin,  forsaken. 

No  light  will  return,  o'er  the  altar  to  burn, 
Where  that  heart  in  its  ruin  reposes ; 

For  what  will  illume  the  dark  night  of  the  tomb, 
That  the  spirit  of  sorrow  incloses  ? 


142  TO      SUE. 

Oh  !  yes,  there's  a  light  that  illumines  the  night, 
That  brings  the  bright  rays  of  the  morrow, 

That  beams  on  the  heart  when  all  others  depart, 
And  remains  with  the  spirit  of  sorrow. 

Then  let  me  arise  to  the  glorious  prize, 
With  a  heart  of  devotion  and  duty ; 

And  worship,  afar,  that  heavenly  star ! 
That  illumines  the  temple  of  beauty. 

Phila.,  August,  1850. 


THE   STAR  OF  LOVE. 

WITH  time,  this  heart  may  callous  grow, 

Be  dead  to  love's  emotion ; 
The  very  sorrows  cease  to  flow, 

That  nourished  its  devotion. 

This  brow  by  care  be  furrowed  o'er ; 

This  soul  with  anguish  shaded ; 
Its  towering  pride  that  sought  to  soar, 

Down  to  the  dust  degraded. 

With  time  the  hopes  may  withering  die, 

Deep  in  this  soul  dejected  ; 
That  once,  like  planets  of  the  sky, 

Shone  from  ite  depths  reflected. 

Then  oh !  how  sad  to  think  it  now, 

Of  all  the  ills  before  me, 
To  which  this  spirit  yet  may  bow, 

Though  heaven  be  smiling  o'er  me. 

Oh !  think  that  but  a  single  star, 
Upon  life's  stormy  sea, 


144  THE      STAR      OF      LOVE. 

Might  guide  its  fragile  bark  afar 
From  every  misery ; 

Might  guide  it  o'er  the  raging  deep 

To  some  Elysian  isle, 
Where  winter's  wrath  would  never  sweep, 

But  spring  for  ever  smile  ; 

Where  in  some  fair  and  fragrant  bower, 

Beneath  that  cloudless  sky, 
Sweet  Love  would  bloom  a  fadeless  flower, 

And  Beauty  never  die. 

Oh  !  may  that  star  that's  beaming  now 

In  brightness  o'er  my  way, 
Still  light  me  with  its  placid  ray, 

Sweet  harbinger  of  day. 

Oh  !  may  it  thus  for  ever  burn, 

Through  life  the  beacon  be, 
To  which  this  soul  shall  fondly  turn 

With  constant  ecstasy ; 

Till  in  unfading  lustre  bright 

Shall  dawn  celestial  day  ; 
And  mingle  with  that  guiding  light, 

My  soul's  immortal  ray. 

Natchez,  April,  1849. 


TO  STELLA, 

A  SABIAN  I  am — and  I  ne'er  will  deny  it — 
But  believe  me,  sweet  girl,  in  the  sense  I  apply  it, 
I  bow  not  to  sun,  nor  to  moon,  nor  to  Mars, 
I  look  not  to  heaven,  to  worship  the  stars. 

Though  Venus  beams  brightest  in  regions  above, 
As  the  queen  of  devotion,  of  beauty,  and  love, 
Yet  I  bow  not  to  planets  refulgent  so  far ; 
Though  I  worship,  indeed,  a  most  beautiful  star ! 

Nor  down  to  the  depths  of  the  fathomless  sear 
Where  heaven's  reflected  like  thine  image  in  me, 
Do  I  dive  in  devotion,  and  my  orison  pay, 
Where  gems,  like  thy  virtues,  turn  darkness  to  day. 

Oh  !  no,  there's  a  heaven — like  the  heaven  above  ! 
And  depths — e'en  the  depths  of  devotion  and  love  ! 
And  stars  that  are  beaming  as  pure  and  as  bright, 
As  e'er  mirrored  in  ocean,  or  mantled  in  night  1 

Then,  sweet  girl,  believe  me,  so  lovely  thou  art, 
I  truly  may  deem  thee  of  heaven  a  part — 
And  I  of  this  earth  sure  a  Sabian  may  be, 
To  worship  the  type  of  that  heaven  in  thee ! 

Phila.,  June,  1850. 


STELLA. 


WHO  is  blithe,  and  who  is  bonny, 
Who  is  lovelier  far  than  any  ? 
Whose  the  cheek  that  heaven  discloses, 
Where  the  tear  of  love  reposes, 
Like  sparkling  dew  on  blooming  roses? 
Speak  it  softly,  softly  tell  her, 
Tis  the  modest,  blushing  Stella ! 
Who  is  blithe,  and  who  is  bonny, 
Who  is  lovelier  far  than  any  ! 

Who  is  bright,  and  who  is  fairest, 
Who's  the  flower  of  beauty  rarest  ? 
Whose  the  mole,  and  whose  the  dimple, 
Beauty's  mark  so  sweet  and  simple, 
On  rosy  cheeks  without  a  rirnple  ? 
Whisper  softly,  softly  tell  her, 
'Tis  the  mild  and  gentle  Stella ! 
Who  is  bright,  and  who  is  fairest, 
Who's  the  flower  of  beauty  rarest ! 


STELLA. 

Who  is  purest,  who  is  dearest, 
Who  of  earth  to  heaven  is  nearest  ? 
Whose  the  soul  with  blessings  teeming, 
Whose  the  eyes  with  rapture  beaming, 
Who's  divine  and  heavenly  seeming  ? 
Breathe  it  softly,  softly  tell  her, 
'Tis  the  sweet,  angelic  Stella  ! 
Who  is  purest,  who  is  dearest, 
Who  of  earth  to  heaven  is  nearest  ! 

Natchez,  Dec.  1,  1850. 


FAREWELL   TO    STELLA. 


THY  words  did  not  unheeded  fall, 

Nor  looks  unnoticed  pass  ; 

My  soul  too  deeply  felt  it  all, 

And  more  than  all,  alas ! 

For  never  to  the  too  rude  touch, 

Did  leaves  of  feeling  close 

With  swifter  speed ;  and  feel  as  much 

Of  suffering,  in  repose. 

My  soul — e'en  as  that  tender  plant 

That  shuns  the  public  view ; 

To  one  small  spot  confines  its  want, 

Its  blessing  but  the  dew — 

From  'neath  oblivion's  sheltering  shade, 

To  astral  radiance  gave 

Those  mystic  sounds  thy  magic  made, 

Like  music  from  the  wave ! 

Thine  was  the  talismanic  word 
That  wakened  every  lay  ; 


FAREWELL      TO      STELLA.  149 

But  thou  hast  snapped  the  tenderest  chord, 

And  cast  the  shell  away ; 

And  never  more  to  Hesper's  rays, 

Or  Vesper's  pensive  beams, 

Shall  sweetly  swell  its  mystic  lays, 

Like  music  in  thy  dreams  ! 

But  thou  wilt  beam  as  bright  at  morn, 

At  even's  slow  'decline. 

Though  ne'er  on  chords  so  sadly  torn 

Thy  magic  rays  may  shine  ; 

Yet  sweeter  strains  may  swell  to  thee 

From  those  that  feel  as  much  ; 

Who  kindle  when  thy  charms  they  see, 

And  thrill  beneath  thy  touch  ! 

Burlington,  June,  1851. 


BEAUTY,  LOVE,  AND  FAME. 


I  ASK  not  for  the  world's  applause 

To  fan  the  dying  flame 
That,  smouldering  'neath  the  wreck  of  hopes, 

Once  burned  for  love  and  fame. 

I  ask  not  for  unbounded  wealth, 

Or  boons  of  peerless  power, 
To  rise  triumphant  o'er  mankind, 

And  rule  my  destined  hour. 

Oh  !  no,  I  ask  for  none  of  these — 

They  never  can  impart 
The  radiant  smile  that  Beauty  gives, 

To  heal  the  wounded  heart ! 

That  from  its  wreck  dispels  the  clouds  ; 

And  fans  the  dying  flame, 
That  warmed  the  soul  by  nature  turned 

To  beauty,  love,  and  fame ! 


BEAUTY,      LOVE,      AND      FAME.  151 

Oh !  give  me  back  love's  happy  dreams 

In  Beauty's  blooming  bowers ; 
When  hope  entwined  her  golden  locks 

With  fancy's  fairest  flowers ; 

When  music  swelled  upon  the  breeze, 

With  fragrance  floating  by ; 
And  Eden  seemed  to  earth  restored, 

Translated  from  the  sky. 

Oh  !  give  me  back  love's  hopes  and  fears, 

Its  thistles  and  its  flowers ; 
With  Beauty  smiling  through  her  tears, 

Like  springtime  through  its  showers  ; 

And  Hope  shall  light  her  torch  again, 

At  glory's  kindling  flame ; 
And  strike  the  chord  by  nature  tuned 

To  Beauty,  Love,  and  Fame ! 

Phila.,  April,  1850. 


HEAVEN   AND   EARTH. 

AN   ALLEGORY. 

I  ONCE  delighted  on  the  stars  to  gaze ; 

To  view  their  brightness,  and  their  beauties  praise. 

I  loved  to  watch  them  in  their  orbits  move, 

And  meet  them  radiant  with  the  beams  of  love. 

They  came,  and  went,  and  when  no  more  their  rays 

Illumed  my  spirit,  and  attuned  my  lays, 

I  oft  would  think  if  still  their  beaming  light, 

Shine  far  away,  as  lively  and  as  bright. 

I  could  not  cease  to  think  of  those  sweet  stars ! 

Oh  !  hadst  thou  seen  them  through  the  jealous  bars, 

That  latticed  Heaven  with  its  bliss  above, 

Thou  too  wouldst  praise  them,  and  thou  too  wouldst 

love. 

But  sorrow  came,  and  o'er  their  brightness  threw 
Its  sable  mantle,  and  concealed  their  view ; 
And  then  I  shunned  them,  and  no  more  would  seek 
To  show  the  passion  that  dared  not  speak; 
But  yet,  when  twilight  came,  I  looked  on  high, 
And  still  there  shone  my  beauty  in  the  sky ! 


HEAVEN      AND      EARTH. 

As  sweet  and  smiling  as  when  first  her  beam 

Awoke  the  vision  of  my  brightest  dream  ! 

Yet  far  away,  and  in  its  sphere  above 

It  moved  regardless  of  my  humble  love. 

And  then  to  earth  I  turned,  with  grief  away ; 

And  plucked  a  flower  to  adorn  my  lay  ; 

But,  as  I  plucked  it,  still  another  grew, 

Till  earth  became  a  heaven  to  my  view ; 

And  I,  enamored  with  its  flow'ry  field, 

With  all  the  raptures  that  its  charms  could  yield, 

Forsook  the  heaven  for  the  beauteous  earth ; 

Forgot  my  sorrow,  and  renewed  my  mirth  ; 

And  thanked  my  fate,  earth's  blooming  field  by  far, 

Could  yield  more  rapture  than  the  brightest  star  ! 

Louisville,  Nov.  1851. 


TO  MISS  EDMON1A  FIELD. 

COULD  words,  expressed,  my  thoughts  reveal ; 

The  emotions  of  my  heart, 
I  then  might  tell  thee  all  I  feel, 

And  paint  thee  as  thou  art. 

But  words,  too  weak,  can  ne'er  convey 

What  would  my  soul  express ; 
And  dared  my  pen  thy  charms  portray, 

I  then  would  praise  thee  less. 

I  can  but  look  thee  all  I  feel ; 

And  by  my  blushing  cheek, 
Far  more  than  words,  to  thee  reveal 

All  that  my  soul  would  speak. 

Then  to  thine  own  soft  azure  eye, 

Shall  love's  electric  ray 
Convey  the  thoughts  my  tongue  deny ; 

And  tell  thee  what  I  say ; 


TO      MISS      EDMONIA      FIELD.  155 

And  by  that  glowing  blush  of  thine, 

Love's  photogenic  spell, 
Shalt  thou  convey  it  back  to  mine, 

With  all  thou  hast  to  tell. 

And  thus  much  more  than  tongue  can  speak, 

Shall  soul  to  soul  reply, 
By  magic  blushes  of  the  cheek, 

• 

And  lightning  of  the  eye  ! 
Louisville,  May,  1851. 


TO  MISS   JENNY   LIND. 


The  following  verses  were  occasioned  by  seeing  a  paragraph  that  gave  the 
reason  why  Miss  Lind  would  not  sing  in  Paris.  The  substance  of  which 
paragraph  was,  an  effort  on  the  part  of  the  person  employed  to  engage  her 
services,  to  disparage  the  reputation  which  she  had  then  recently  acquired  in 
Germany;  and  to  impress  her  with  a  belief  that  the  sanction  of  Parisian 
opinion  was  essential  to  her  success. 


ARISE  on  high,  sweet  child  of  song, 

Unto  thy  native  sky  ; 
For  strains  like  thine  to  heaven  belong, 

And  were  not  sung  to  die. 

'Tis  thine  aloft,  with  faultless  note, 
To  plume  thy  peerless  flight, 

Where  seraph  songs  of  rapture  float, 
The  enchantment  of  delight. 

Oh  !  not  to  earth  thy  spirit  came, 

To  pine  for  mortal  praise, 
No  ;  genius  soars  aloft  to  fame. 

Transcendent  with  its  rays. 


TO      MISS      JENNY      LIND.  157 

Oh !  not  to  one  small  spot  is  bound 
The  enchantment  of  thy  strain ; 

No ;  nations  praise  the  magic  sound, 
They  ne'er  shall  hear  again. 

Sweet  child  of  love  and  peerless  song, 

Thy  notes  can  never  die ; 
Thy  strains  to  heavenly  choirs  belong ; 

Thy  home  is  in  the  sky ! 

Thy  fame  extends  far  o'er  the  sea, 

Ascends  the  loftiest  goal, 
Where  music  yields  her  wreath  to  thee, 

The  enchantress  of  the  soul ! 

Louisville,  Oct.  1850. 


FAME. 


AWAY,  away,  thou  ignis  fatuus  light, 
Thou  fleeting  phantom  of  the  dangerous  height, 
Where  fierce  Ambition,  with  the  thirst  of  fame, 
Erects  his  standard  and  inscribes  his  name — 
Thou  Protean  power  to  lure  with  every  shape ; 
To  act  the  cut-throat,  or  the  monarch  ape  ; 
Or  Syren-like  with  song's  seductive  art, 
To  cheat  the  fancy,  and  enthrall  the  heart ; 
Too  long  deluded  by  thy  magic  power, 
The  inspiring  incense  of  each  Paphian  bower, 
Thy  Sapphic  songs  in  sweetest  cadence  poured, 
I've  kneeled  with  rapture,  and  in  bliss  adored. 
But,  ah !  too  cruel,  have  I  learned,  though  late, 
To  spurn  thy  offerings,  and  thy  arts  to  hate ; 
For  sweetly  coyish  as  a  fair  coquette, 
Who  lures  her  votary  to  her  artful  net, 
Thou  didst  askance  with  look  coquettish  gaze, 
And  still  allure  me  with  thy  magic  rays ; 
While  I  forlorn  obsequious  sought  thee  still, 
And  bowed  thy  slave,  submissive  to  thy  will. 


FAME.  159 

Yet  thee  the  more  I  sought,  thou  me  the  more  didst 

shun, 

And  deem  thy  votary,  most  unworthy,  won. 
Now  go !  avaunt !  thy  tyrant  reign  is  o'er — 
Oh  !  wealth,  but  aid  me,  and  I  ask  no  more. 

New  Orleans,  Jan.  1845. 


THE    REPLY. 

THE  theme  is  changedf  tis  now  to  smile, 

And  sing  a  merry  lay  ; 
Wkli  cheerful  songs  my  life  beguile, 

And  while  my  hours  away. 

Let  others  struggling  up  the  steep, 
Strive  for  immortal  fame  ; 

And  let  them  too  at  midnight  weep 

* 
Their  anguish  and  their  shame. 

Let  stern  ambition  heap  the  pile 

That  avarice  can  store  ; 
And  vile  dishonor  add  the  spoil, 

From  innocence  it  tore. 

I  envy  not,  bright  genius'  flight ; 

Its  radiance  I  adore ; 
And  hail  its  triumphs  with  delight, 

On  every  sea  and  shore. 


THE      REPLY.  161 


For,  oh  !  the  life  of  Freedom  dwells 
Within  its  magic  charm  ; 

E'en  where  its  faintest  echo  swells 
It  nerves  the  patriot's  arm. 

Beneath  Oppression's  iron  reign, 

As  powder  to  the  mine, 
It  bursts  the  adamantine  chain 

That  checks  its  flight  divine. 

Above  a  nation's  stormy  strife, 

E'en  as  omniscient  will, 
It  breathes  a  renovating  life, 

And  bids  its  waves  be  still. 

And  what  is  stern  ambition's  aim, 
With  all  its  charms,  to  me  ? 

What  honor,  wealth,  or  titled  name, 
So  that  my  soul  be  free  ? 

I  envy  not  hale  Industry, 

With  persevering  Art, 
That  spreads  her  sails  on  every  sea, 

And  frequents  every  mart. 

I  gladly  see  her  stately  pile, 
With  graceful  columns  rise, 


162  THE      REtLY. 

Rewarding  all  her  honest  toil, 
While  niggard  envy  dies. 

I  gladly  see  the  stores  increase, 
Of  those  who  till  the  earth  ; 

And  all  the  charms  of  smiling  Peace, 
Beam  blessings  on  their  worth. 

Then  why  should  I  for  wealth,  or  fame, 
With  all  their  cares  and  pains, 

Destroy  my  peace  perchance  for  shame, 
Or  health  for  evil  gains  ? 

No,  let  me  keep  what  worth  can  prize, 
What  heaven  bestowed  on  me ; 

A  soul  that  can  the  vile  despise, 
Be  honest,  poor,  and  free. 

Natchez,  Nov.  1850. 


MY  DREAM. 

lip 

I  DREAM  by  day,  I  dream  by  night, 
Of  Beauty's  kindling*  beam, 

My  solace  bright,  my  pure  delight, 
My  vision  and  my  theme. 

Oh  !  let  me  live,  and  live  and  love, 
The  world  is  fair  before  me, 

The  brightest  star  that  shines  afar 
Is  Venus  beaming  o'er  me. 

But  here  below,  the  stars  that  glow, 

The  fairest  of  creation, 
That  brightest  shine,  with  beams  divine, 

The  beauties  of  a  nation, 

Are  those  whose  ray  illumes  the  way 
That  guides  the  souls  to  glory, 

That  death  defy,  to  rise  on  high, 
And  stamp  their  names  in  story ; 


164  MY      DREAM. 

The  stars  whose  light  dispels  the  night, 
And  gems  the  soul's  deep  ocean  ; 

The  elysiah  sky  in  woman's  eye, 
Love's  temple  of  devotion. 

Then  let  me  dream  of  beauty's  beam, 

The  guide  to  glory  given, 
That  lights  the  flame  that  leads  to  fame, 

And  lures  the  soul  to  heaven  ! 

Pkila.,  Dec.  1849. 


TO   STELLA. 

THE  mountains  rise  between  us, 

And  the  rapid  rivers  flow, 
But  I  will  not  forget  thee, 

Wherever  I  shall  go. 
The  wild  bee  loves  the  flower, 

And  the  flower  drinks  the  dew  ; 
The  song-bird  seefcs  its  bower, 

But  my  spirit  flies  to  you ! 

Space  and  time  may  sever, 

And  others  may  forget, 
But  thou  shalt  beam  for  ever, 

As  thou  art  beaming  yet. 
A  rose-bud  in  its  bower, 

A  pearl  droppdR  in  the  sea, 
Sweet  fragrance  in  the  flower, 

Oh  !  such  thou  a"rt  to  me  ! 

I  turn  unto  tbe  twilight, 

With  the  closing  beams  of  day, 


166  TO      STELLA. 

And  see  thee  in  thy  brightness, 
Though  thou  art  far  away  ; 

For  heaven  robed  in  beauty, 
Is  the  expression  of  thy  face ! 

And  the  twilight  that  remains, 

Is  thy  mirror  in  its  place  ! 

*» 

I  turn  unto  the  heaven, 

When  no  longer  beams  the  day, 
And  see  thee  in  thy  brightness, 

Though  thou  art  far  away ; 
For  enthroned  within  the  sky, 

Shines,  the  brightest  in  its  sphere, 
A  planet  like  my  Stella 

In  her  beautiful  career ! 

I  gaze  upon  that  planet, 

When  the  clouds  beneath  it  fly, 
And  think  upon  thee,  Stella, 

As  I  watch  it  in  the  sky ; 
For  thus  above  the  tempest, 

And  the  stormy  sea  of  life, 
Beams  the  brightness  of  thy  beauty 

Through  its  darkness  and  its  sprite  ! 

Oh  !  can  I  then  forget  thee, 

Though  storms  between  us  sweep  ; 


TO      STELLA. 


Though  darkness  shroud  the  heaven, 
And  tempests  toss  the  deep  ? 

Oh  !  no,  I  will  remember, 
Wherever  I  shall  b  3, 

That  still  thou  art  my  Stella, 
Heaven's  beacon  unto  me  ! 

Natchez,  Feb.  1850. 


REPLY  TO  "ABSENCE." 


WHAT  do  with  days  and  hours 
Ere  thou  shalt  see  my  face  ? 

Why  twine  gay  wreaths  of  flowers, 
And  put  them  in  my  place  ? 

And  when  the  shades  of  night, 
Thy  slumbering  soul  shall  keep, 

Will  come  with  strange  delight, 
Bright  visions  in  thy  sleep. 

Thou'lt  rove  by  rippling  rills, 
By  grottoes  bright  and  green, 

Where  spring-time  clothes  the  hills, 
And  beauty  paints  the  scene. 

Thou'lt  hear  the  wild  bird's  song 
Swell  sweetly  down  the  vale  ; 

And  echoes  strange  prolong 
Its  music  on  the  gale. 


REPLY    TO    "ABSENCE."  169 

Where'er  thy  steps  shall  tread, 

Bright  flowers  of  every  hue, 
Their  sweetest  scents  will  shed, 

And  blossom  to  thy  view. 

And  thus  thou'lt  count  the  hours 

That  bring  me  back  to  thee  ; 
For  thou  among  the  flowers 

Wilt  fondly  dream  of  me ! 

Natchez,  Nov.  1850. 


TO    MRS.    L****    P***. 

L 
(WITH    A   BOUQUET.) 

THESE  flowers  from  the  rugged  rock, 

I've,  lady,  culled  for  thee. 
They,  riven  from  their  parent  stock, 

In  fate  resemble  me. 

Thus  sprang  my  soul  to  being  here, 

Amid  the  forest  wild  ; 
But  Mercy,  with  her  pitying  tear, 

Upon  my  fortune  smiled. 

And  though  these  buds  in  sylvan  shade, 

Unseen  by  mortal  eye, 
With  all  their  brilliant  hues  might  fade, 

And  wither,  droop,  and  die  ; 

Their  spirits,  on  the  perfumed  air, 
Would  rise  to  bliss  on  high ; 


TO      MRS.      L****      p*##. 

And  blush  with  hues  immortal  there, 
The  flowers  of  the  sky  ! 

And  though  no  love  may  clasp  me  dear 
As  wild  flowers  to  thy  breast, 

Yet  may  my  soul  so  lonely  here, 
Be  cherished  by  the  blest ; 

And  in  the  spheres  beyond  the  skies, 
My  lot  more  bright  may  be, 

Than  those  who  win  with  tears  and  sighs, 
Earth's  frail  felicity. 

Then,  lady,  take  the  gift  I  give, 
With  this  my  fervent  prayer  : 

That  thou  on  earth  mayst  happy  live, 
With  more  than  mortals  share. 

And  when  thy  charms  shall  fade  away, 

And  like  these  flowers  die, 
Oh  !  mayst  thou  bloom,  a  bright  bouquet, 

Translated  to  the  sky  ! 

.Lenox,  Mass.,  Aug.  1851. 


THE    EXPLANATION. 


MY  bonny  Jane,  I'll  not  complain, 
Of  all  the  wrongs  you've  done  me ; 

Ah,  had  you  sight,  you'd  see  aright, 
And  sweetly  smile  upon  me. 

I  called  not  love,  and  all  above, 

To  witness  my  devotion ; 
While  others  knelt,  I  only  felt 

For  thee  a  fond  emotion. 

Do  not  believe  I  would  deceive, 
I'm  heartless  in  my  dealing ; 

For  little  elf,  just  like  yourself, 
My  soul  is  full  of  feeling. 

I  only  thought  'twas  time  I  ought 

To  find  a  peaceful  haven  ; 
But  what  I  brought  was  badly  fraught, 

A  heart  with  "  grief"  engraven. 


THE      EXPLANATION.  173 

I  did  but  seek  to  avoid  wreck 

Upon  life's  stormy  ocean  ; 
And  thought  the  port  a  safe  resort 

From  all  its  fierce  commotion. 

But,  bonny  Jane,  I'll  not  complain 

The  bark  has  been  rejected  ; 
It  still  may  ride  the  troubled  tide; 

And  be  by  thee  respected. 

For  thus  on  high,  shall  ever  fly, 

The  colors  I've  defended ; 
Nailed  to  the  mast,  unto  the  last, 

Till  life  and  hope  be  ended ; 

And  there  unfurled,  may  read  the  world, 

My  motto  and  my  story ; 
An  honest  name,  an  honored  fame ; 

My  fortune,  and  my  glory  ! 

Natchez,  May,  1849. 


THE    CONFESSION. 


YES,  I  have  bowed  at  many  a  shrine, 
And  placed  my  offering  there  ; 

And  deemed  my  idol  was  divine, 
The  fairest  of  the  fair. 

And  I  have  waked  from  happy  dreams, 

To  see  the  illusion  die 
Like  magic  tints  of  morning  beams 

Along  the  eastern  sky. 

Still  fondly  to  my  vision  grew 
The  cherished  hope  of  years  ; 

While  fancy  banished  from  my  view, 
Love's  twilight  with  its  tears. 

But  clouds  are  gathering  in  the  west, 
The  shades  of  evening  close  ; 

The  wild  bird  flies  unto  its  nest, 
And  dew-drops  deck  the  rose. 


THE     CONFESSION.  175 

The  morning  rays  will  rise  again, 

And  from  its  nest  depart 
The  warbling  bird,  with  wildest  strain, 

To  glad  the  joyous  heart. 

And  decked  to  embrace  his  early  beam, 

And  all  her  charms  disclose, 
Like  Beauty  wakened  from  her  dream , 

Will  blush  the  blooming  rose. 

But  never,  to  the  minstrel's  view, 

Will  morn  of  hope  arise, 
And  in  his  heart  those  strains  renew, 

That  lured  him  to  the  skies. 

And  ne'er  again  will  wakened  Love, 

With  blushing  rapture  stay, 
To  hail  the  rosy  hues  above, 

And  listen  to  his  lay. 

But  in  the  gathering  gloom  of  life, 

That  round  his  vision  close, 
He'll  wrap  his  mantle  for  the  strife, 

And  sink  into  repose. 

Perchance  amid  the  wreck  of  years, 
Some  ruined  fane  may  rise, 


176  THE      CONFESSION. 

With  ivies  nursed  by  Beauty's  tears, 
And  hid  from  human  eyes. 

And  there  some  wandering  genius  led, 

By  meditation's  mood, 
May  o'er  the  ruined  relic  tread 

To  muse  in  solitude. 

And  gazing  'neath  the  fadeless  vine, 

Behold  a  kindred  name 
Inscribed  upon  that  ruined  shrine, 

To  guide  his  steps  to  fame. 

Oh  !  should  his  strain  transcendent  rise, 

And  as  Torquato's  soar ; 
Re-echoed  from  his  native  skies, 

And  heard  on  every  shore, 

Oh  !  then  the  minstrel's  soul  on  high, 
"Will  all  his  rapture  share  ; 

And  soar  triumphant  to  the  sky, 
To  dwell  for  ever  there. 

Lex.,  Oct.  1851. 


NOTES. 


NOTES. 


NOTE  1. 

Yet  Borgne  's  far  greater  than  that  ancient  sea, 
E'en  Maurapas,  than  raging  Galilee. 

The  Sea  of  Galilee  is  only  an  expansion  of  the  river  Jordan ; 
it  is  twelve  or  fourteen  miles  in  length,  and  six  or  seven  in 
breadth.  The  land  or  plain  of  Genesareth,  upon  which  were 
situated  the  cities  of  Capernaum,  Bethsaida,  and  Chorazin,  bor 
ders  upon  this  sea,  and  is  four  miles  in  length  and  two  and  a 
half  in  breadth.  It  was  upon  and  about  this  sea,  and  in  the 
cities  situated  upon  its  borders,  that  the  most  of  the  mighty 
works  of  the  Saviour  were  done.  It  was  here  that  he  came  to 
his  disciples  walking  on  the  sea,  and  where  he  rebuked  the 
winds  and  the  sea,  and  stilled  the  tempest. 

The  river  Jordan,  the  fruitful  source  of  poetical  imagery  to 
a  Jew,  surpassed  in  magnitude  not  only  all  the  streams  of  his 
own  country,  but,  with  the  single  exception  of  the  Nile,  is 
larger  than  any  tributary  received  by  the  Mediterranean  along 
the  whole  extent  of  its  southern  coast,  from  the  Atlantic  to 
Mount  Lebanon  :  and  yet  from  its  outlet  at  the  Sea  of  Tiberias 
or  Galilee  to  its  mouth  in  the  Dead  Sea,  it  does  not  exceed 
sixty  miles  in  length,  and  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year  is  ford- 
able  at  many  places  between  these  two  seas  or  lakes,  and  pro 
bably  enters  the  Dead  Sea  with  a  smaller  volume  of  water  than 


180  NOTES. 

it  receives  from  the  Sea  of  Tiberias.  Four  or  five  miles  from 
the  mouth  of  the  river  and  three  and  a  half  in  a  direct  course 
from  the  Dead  Sea,  is  the  spot  where  Joshua,  with  the  hosts  of 
Israel,  crossed  the  Jordan  ;  the  river  here  is  thirty-five  or  forty 
yards  wide. 

NOTE  2. 

To  one  pursuit,  and  narrow  spot  confined, 
Was  bound  the  body,  and  restrained  the  mind. 

The  institution  of  castes,  or  the  division  of  a  people  into 
tribes  and  families,  who  were  obliged  by  the  laws  and  super 
stitions  of  the  country  to  follow  without  deviation,  the  profes 
sions  and  habits  of  their  forefathers,  could  not  fail  of  impress 
ing  the  idea  of  abject  servility  on  the  lower  classes ;  and  by 
removing  the  motive  of  emulation,  must  have  created  in  all  an 
apathy  and  indifference  to  improvement  in  their  particular 
profession.  The  Egyptian  community  was  divided  into  the  fol 
lowing  classes :  1.  The  Sacerdotal  order.  2.  The  Military.  3. 
The  Herdsmen.  4.  The  Agricultural  and  Commercial  class. 
5.  The  Artificers  or  Laboring  artisans.  The  employments  of 
all  these  classes  were  hereditary,  and  no  man  was  allowed,  by 
the  law,  to  engage  in  any  occupation  different  from  that  in 
which  he  had  been  educated  by  his  parents.  It  was  accounted 
an  honorable  distinction  to  belong  either  to  the  Sacerdotal  or 
the  Military  class.  The  other  orders  were  considered  greatly 
inferior  in  dignity ;  and  no  Egyptian  could  mount  the  throne 
who  was  not  descended  from  the  Priesthood  or  the  Soldiery.  _, 

NOTE  3. 
The  ox-god  grew  and  fattened  in  his  stall. 

Apis,  a  sacred  bull,  worshipped  by  the  Egyptians.  Its  abode 
was  at  Memphis,  and  it  was  in  this  city  that  peculiar  honors 
were  rendered  it  The  Apis  was  distinguished  from  other  ani 
mals  of  the  same  kind  by  the  following  characteristics.  He 


NOTES.  181 

was  supposed  to  be  generated  not  in  the  ordinary  course  of 
nature,  but  by  a  flashing  from  on  high ;  or,  according  to  oth 
ers,  by  the  contact  of  the  Moon.  As,  however,  this  evidence 
of  his  divinity  was  rather  dubious,  several  external  marks  were 
superadded,  to  satisfy  his  votaries  of  his  claims  to  adoration. 
His  color  was  black,  in  order  that  the  distinctive  marks  might 
the  more  clearly  appear ;  these  were  a  square  white  spot  on 
the  forehead,  the  figure  of  an  eagle  on  the  back,  a  white  cres 
cent  on  the  right  side,  the  mark  of  a  beetle  on  the  tongue,  and 
double  hair  on  the  tail.  The  marks  in  question  which  thus 
stamped  his  claim  to  divinity,  were  of  course  the  contrivance 
of  the  priests,  though  of  this  the  people  were  kept  profoundly 
ignorant.  This  animal  was  regarded  with  the  highest  venera 
tion,  and  more  than  regal  honors  were  rendered  it.  He  was 
waited  upon,  also,  by  numerous  attendants ;  a  particular  priest 
hood  were  set  apart  for  him ;  stalls  were  provided,  furnished 
with  every  convenience,  and  his  food  was  presented  to  him  in 
vessels  of  gold.  The  annual  festival  of  Apis  was  celebrated 
with  the  utmost  splendor.  It  always  began  with  the  rising  of 
the  Nile,  and  presented,  for  seven  successive  days,  a  scene  of 
uninterrupted  rejoicing  and  festivity.  During  its  continuance 
the  god  Apis  was  displayed  to  the  view  of  the  people  arrayed 
in  festal  attire,  his  head  surmounted  with  a  kind  of  tiara,  and 
his  body  adorned  with  embroidered  coverings,  while  a  troop 
of  boys  accompanied  him  singing  hymns  in  his  praise.  "When 
Apis  died  a  natural  death,  the  whole  of  Egypt  was  plunged  in 
mourning,  from  the  king  to  the  peasant ;  and  this  mourning 
continued  until  a  new  Apis  was  found.  The  deceased  animal 
was  embalmed  in  the  most  costly  mariner. 

NOTE  4. 

Birds,  fish,  and  brutes  grew  gods ;   dogs,  cats,  and  cranes, 
The  pious  objects  of  the  people's  pains. 

It  was  remarked   by  Clemens  and  Origen  that    those  who 
visited  Egypt  approached  with  delight  its  sacred  groves  and 


182  NOTES. 

splendid  temples,  adorned  with  superb  vestibules  and  lofty 
porticoes,  the  scenes  of  many  solemn  and  mysterious  rites. 
"The  walls,"  says  Clemens,  "shine  with  gold  and  silver  and  with 
amber,  and  sparkle  with  the  various  gems  of  India  and  Ethio 
pia  ;  and  the  recesses  are  concealed  by  splendid  curtains.  But 
if  you  enter  the  penetralia,  and  inquire  for  the  image  of  the 
god  for  whose  sake  the  fane  was  built,  some  attendant  on  the 
temple  approaches,  with  a  solemn  and  mysterious  aspect,  and 
putting  aside  the  veil  suffers  you  to  peep  in  and  obtain  a 
glimpse  of  the  divinity.  There  you  behold  a  snake,  a  crocodile, 
or  a  cat,  or  some  other  beast,  a  fitter  inhabitant  of  a  cave  or  a 
bog,  than  a  temple."  It  was  a  capital  crime  to  voluntarily  kill 
any  of  the  sacred  animals ;  but  if  an  ibis  or  a  hawk  was  acci 
dentally  destroyed,  the  author  of  the  deed  was  often  put  to 
death  by  the  multitude,  without  form  of  law.  At  the  death  of 
a  cat  every  inmate  of  the  house  cut  off  his  eyebrows ;  but  at 
the  funeral  of  a  dog  he  shaved  his  head  and  whole  body.  The 
carcasses  of  all  cats  were  salted,  and  carried  to  Bubastus  to  be 
interred.  Every  Nome  in  Egypt  paid  a  particular  worship  to 
the  animal  that  was  consecrated  to  its  tutelar  god  ;  but  there 
were  certain  species  which  the  whole  nation  held  in  great 
reverence.  These  were  the  ox,  the  dog  and  the  cat,  the  hawk, 
and  the  ibis ;  and  the  fishes  termed  oxyrhynchus  and  lepida- 
tus.  In  each  Nome  the  whole  species  of  animals  to  the  worship 
of  which  it  was  dedicated,  was  held  in  great  respect ;  but  one 
favored  individual  was  selected  to  receive  the  adoration  of  the 
multitude,  and  supply  the  place  of  an  image  of  the  god.  Among 
insects,  the  cantharis  scaralwus,  or  beetle,  was  very  celebrated 
as  an  object  of  worship.  Nor  was  the  adoration  of  the  Egyp 
tians  confined  to  animals  merely  ;  many  plants  were  regarded 
as  mystical  or  sacred,  and  none  more  so  than  the  lotus.  The 
peach  tree,  the  onion,  the  leek,  and  various  legumina  were  held 
in  veneration.  The  acacia  and  heliotrope  were  among  the 
plants  consecrated  to  the  Sun.  The  laurel  was  regarded  as  the 
most  noble  of  all  plants.  There  were  thirty-six  plants  dedi 
cated  to  the  thirty-six  genii,  or  decans,  who  presided  over  their 
portions  of  the  twelve  signs  of  the  zodiac. 


NOTES.  183 

NOTE  5. 

And  priests  ordained,  with  stipends  vast,  to  keep 
These  gods  alive — and  all  mankind  asleep. 

Every  Egyptian  priest  had  to  belong  to  the  service  of  some 
particular  deity ;  or  in  other  words,  to  be  attached  to  some 
temple.  Not  only  was  the  priestly  caste  hereditary  in  its 
nature,  but  also  the  priesthoods  of  individual  deities.  Each 
temple  had  extensive  portions  of  land  attached  to  it,  the 
revenues  of  which,  belonging,  as  they  did,  to  those  whose  fore 
fathers  had  erected  the  temple,  were  received  by  the  priests  as 
matters  of  hereditary  right,  and  made  those  who  tilled  these 
lands  be  regarded  as  their  dependants  or  subjects.  They 
formed  not  only  the  ruling  caste,  and  supplied  from  their  num 
ber  all  the  offices  of  government,  but  were  in  possession, 
likewise,  of  all  the  learning  and  knowledge  of  the  land ;  in  a 
word,  they  had  charge  of  every  department  that  was  in  any 
way  connected  with  learning  and  science.  They  were  the 
principal  landholders  of  the  country,  and  besides  them,  the 
right  of  holding  lands  was  enjoyed  only  by  the  king  and  the 
military  caste.  A  large,  if  not  the  largest  and  fairest  portion 
of  the  lands  of  Egypt,  remained  always  in  the  hands  of  the 
priests.  To  each  temple  was  attached  extensive  domains — the 
common  possession  of  the  whole  fraternity,  and  their  original 
place  of  settlement.  These  lands  were  let  out  for  a  moderate 
sum,  and  the  revenue  derived  from  them  went  to  the  common 
treasury  of  the  temple,  over  which  a  superintendent  or 
treasurer  was  placed,  who  was  also  a  member  of  the  sacerdo 
tal  body.  From  this  treasury  were  supplied  the  wants  of  the 
various  families  that  composed  the  sacred  college.  The 
sacerdotal  families  of  Egypt  were  the  richest  and  most  dis 
tinguished  in  the  land,  and  the  whole  order  formed  in  fact,  a 
highly  privileged  nobility. 


184  NOTES. 

NOTE  6. 

In  earth  above,  and  earth  beneath  was  stored 
With  those  who  cats  and  crocodiles  adored. 

"The  whole  neighborhood  of  the  pyramids  is  occupied  with 
ancient  cemeteries.  Many  are  simple  apartments,  excavated  in 
the  solid  rock.  Others  are  deep  pits  or  wells,  sunk  in  the 
mountain.  They  are  commonly  square.  One  which  I  ex 
amined,  was  but  partially  cleared  of  sand  and  rubbish,  and  a 
number  of  men  were  employed  in  the  completion  of  the  work ; 
they  had  already  descended  sixty  or  seventy  feet.  The  pit 
was  at  least  twenty  feet  square,  excavated  in  solid  rock.  Im 
mense  quantities  of  human  remains  lay  scattered  in  all  direc 
tions  around  its  mouth,  and  the  bucket  came  up  several  times, 
while  we  were  there,  filled  with  fragments — ribs,  thigh-bones, 
sculls,  <fcc.  These  pits  vary  in  dimensions,  from  twenty  to  five 
or  six  feet  square.  The  most  numerous  and  important  class  of 
cemeteries  in  the  vicinity  of  the  pyramids  is  composed  of  ob 
long  mausolea,  constructed  of  immense  blocks  of  stone.  These 
consist  sometimes  of  several  rooms,  in  which  fragments  of 
human  skeletons  are  generally  found.  In  all  these  mausolea 
a  passage  or  well  exists,  leading  to  the  depth  of  sixty  feet  or 
more,  where  human  remains  are  always  found. 

"From  the  top  of  the  pyramid,  the  spectator  looks  down 
upon  a  great  extent  of  country,  stretching  north  and  south, 
along  the  edge  of  the  desert ;  and  covered  with  ancient 
sepulchral  monuments.  They  are  said  to  extend  northward,  as 
far  as  the  pyramids  of  Dashour,  a  distance  of  ten  miles!  It 
was  the  burying  ground  of  old  Memphis."  On  or  Heliopolis 
and  Egyptian  Babylon,  occupied  nearly  the  same  site  as  Mem 
phis,  or  the  present  city  of  Cairo  with  its  300,000  inhabitants. 

NOTE  7. 

Would  make  your  creed  Procrustes'  bed  of  old. 
Procrustes,    a   famous    robber    of    Attica,    who   compelled 


NOTES.  185 

travellers  to  lie  down  on  a  couch,  and,  if  their  length  exceeded 
that  of  the  couch,  he  lopped  off  as  much  of  their  limbs  as 
would  suffice  to  make  the  length  equal.  If  they  were  shorter 
than  the  couch,  he  stretched  them  to  the  requisite  length. 

NOTE  8. 
From  that  far  time  hid  in  remotest  night. 

The  profane  writers  differ  immensely  from  the  sacred  books 
in  their  computations,  but  particularly  in  relation  to  the  age 
of  the  world.  The  designations  of  time  in  our  sacred  books 
are  dark,  fluctuating,  and  discordant  amongst  themselves.  Be 
sides,  there  are  several  texts  of  these  sacred  books,  the  He 
brew,  Samaritan,  and  the  Greek  text  of  the  seventy  interpre 
ters.  All  three  differ  from  one  another.  The  chronology  of 
Josephus  Flavius  has  been  added  to  that  of  the  three  texts  cited, 
on  account  of  its  antiquity  and  authority ;  hence  we  have  four 
different  sources  or  bases  for  ancient  chronology.  These  have 
all  been  carefully  investigated,  studied,  expounded,  and  com 
pared  by  later  chronologists ;  recourse  has  been  had  also  to 
profane  writers,  in  order  to  illumine  the  darkness.  In  vain! 
it  has  become  more  dense.  A  great  number  of  scholars,  some 
of  whom  were  also  men  of  genius,  have  devoted  their  time 
and  labor  to  this  ungrateful  employment ;  and  the  consequence 
is,  that  we  now  possess  more  than  a  hundred  different  sys 
tems,  Which  differ  more  than  1400  years  from  one  another. 
The  Babylonians  claim  an  antiquity  of  473,000  years;  the 
Egyptians,  of  100,000  years;  the  Scythians,  Phrygians,  Pheni- 
cians,  each,  more  than  100,000  years ;  the  Chinese,  96,961,740 
years.  Ileliopolis  was  a  great  city,  adorned  with  magnificent 
monuments  1700  years  before  Christ. 

NOTE  9. 

Swayed  councils,  kingdoms,  armies,  with  their  word  ; 
fThe  mightiest  monarch,  and  the  vilest  herd. 

The    importance  attached  by   the   Greeks   and  Komans  to 

8* 


186  NOTES. 

oracular  responses,  is  a  striking  feature  in  the  history  of  that 
people.  Hardly  any  enterprise,  whether  private  or  public,  of 
any  moment,  was  undertaken,  without  recourse  being  had  to 
them,  and  their  sanction  being  attained.  In  latter  times, 
indeed,  their  influence  was  greatly  diminished,  and  thus  gra 
dually  fell  into  disrepute.  Cicero  affirms,  that  long  before  his 
age,  even  the  Delphic  oracle  was  regarded  by  many  with  con 
tempt  ;  and  there  is  little  doubt,  that  oracles  were  considered 
by  philosophers  as  nothing  different  from  what  they  really 
were  ;  and  by  politicians,  as  instruments  that  could  be  used  for 
their  purposes.  Oracles  existed,  and  were  at  least  occasional 
ly  consulted,  as  late  as  A.  D.  358.  About  that  period  they 
entirely  ceased,  though  for  several  centuries  previous  they 
had  sunk  very  low  in  public  esteem.  The  Grecian  oracles,  or 
at  least  the  most  celebrated  of  them,  were  of  foreign  origin  ; 
and  were  established  either  by  Egyptian  or  Phoenician 
strangers.  What  had  been  wrested  by  force  from  the  sacerdo 
tal  caste  was  in  a  great  measure  regained  by  the  influence  of 
these  very  oracles  on  the  weak  and  superstitious.  Everything 
that  could  tend  to  keep  up  a  feeling  of  awe  in  the  visitor  was 
exhibited.  The  seats  of  the  oracles  were  established  in  the 
bosoms  of  forests,  by  the  lonely  sources  of  rivers,  on  wild  and 
craggy  mountains,  in  gloomy  caves,  but  above  all,  near  the 
mansions  of  the  dead.  And,  notwithstanding  the  efforts  of 
philosophy,  and  the  raillery  and  sarcasm  of  the  comic  muse, 
they  succeeded  in  acquiring  a  power  which  often  placet.  in  the 
hands  of  their  expounders  the  common  fortunes  of  Greece. 

NOTE  10. 

Surveyed  the  air,  earth,  ocean,  and  the  sky  ; 
And  saw  them  all  as  one  harmonious  whole, 
With  <;<><1  the  sovereign  and  superior  soul. 


to  the  doctrine  of  the  Stoics 
tains  two  principled  —  the  one  passive,  an 
The  passive  principle  is  pure  matter;  the  act  ive  is  r 


NOTES.  187 

God,  by  whose  energy  all  bodies  are  formed,  moved,  and  ar 
ranged.  The  human  soul  was  believed  to  proceed  from,  and 
at  last  return  into,  the  divine  nature. 

NOTE  11. 

Where  virtue  ruled,  and  deeds  of  virtue  gave 
A  high  distinction  to  the  good  and  brave. 

The  Stoics,  as  the  Cynics,  assumed  an  artificial  severity  of 
manners,  arid  a  tone  of  virtue  above  the  condition  of  man 
kind.  Their  doctrine  of  moral  wisdom  professed  to  raise 
human  nature  to  a  degree  of  perfection  before  unknown. 
Pythagoras  aimed  to  establish  a  dominion  which  he  believed 
to  be  that  of  wisdom  and  virtue;  a  rational  supremacy  of 
minds  enlightened  by  philosophy,  and  purified  by  religion. 


12. 

And  Discord  fierce  the  wreck  of  chaos  threw 
O'er  the  dark  haunts  where  superstition  grew. 

Society  had  sunk,  for  several  centuries  after  the  dissolution 
of  the  Roman  empire,  into  a  condition  of  utter  depravity.  Be 
fore  the  conclusion  of  the  fifth  century  the  Roman  empire,  in 
all  the  west  of  Europe,  was  finally  overthrown  by  the  barba 
rous  nations  from  the  north,  who  permanently  settled  them 
selves  in  its  fairest  provinces,  and  planted  their  yoke  upon  its 
ancient  possessors.  From  486  to  613  was  a  continued  succes 
sion  of  scenes  of  tumult  and  bloodshed,  in  which  the  eye  meets 
with  no  sunshine,  nor  can  rest  upon  any  interesting  spot.  It 
would  be  difficult  to  find  anywhere  more  vice  or  less  virtue. 

NOTE  13. 

Till  force  supreme  o'er  force  exhausted  rose, 
And  crushed  the  power  of  opposing  foes  ; 


188  NOTES. 

Then  laws  tyrannic  curbed  th«  savage  mind, 
While  superstition  triumphed  o'er  mankind. 

The  dominion  of  the  Ostrogoths  in  Italy  was  annihilated  by 
Belisarius  and  Narses,  in  the  sixth  century.  Not  long  after 
wards,  the  Lombards  subdued  the  northern  parts  of  Italy,  and, 
extending  themselves  southward,  formed  the  duchies  of  Spoleto 
and  Benevento  ;  their  kings  resided  at  Pavia.  The  rest  of  Ita 
ly  was  governed  by  exarchs,  deputed  by  the  Greek  emperor, 
and  fixed  at  Ravenna.  Persecutions  by  two  or  three  Greek 
emperors  against  a  favorite  superstition,  the  worship  of  ima 
ges,  excited  commotions  throughout  Italy,  of  which  the  Lom 
bards  took  advantage,  and  wrested  the  exarchate  of  Ravenna 
from  the  Eastern  empire.  In  754  Pepin  conquered  the  provin 
ces  of  Romania  and  the  march  of  Ancona  from  the  Lombards, 
and  conveyed  them  to  the  Pope.  Charlemagne  was  crowned 
emperor  in  800 ;  he  extended  his  empire  and  religion  from  the 
Elbe  to  the  Ebro,  to  the  Bohemian  mountains,  and  to  the  mo 
dern  frontier  of  Naples.  He  beheaded  in  one  day  4000  Saxons, 
and  pronounced  the  pain  of  death  against  those  who  refused 
baptism,  or  even  ate  flesh  during  Lent. 


NOTE  11. 

Small  spots  of  light  on  earth's  benighted  sphere, 
To  make  more  dark  its  shrouding  pall  appear. 

Within  no  period  of  history  has  the  good  ever  exceeded  the 
evil,  or  the  enlightened  the  unenlightened  portion  of  mankind ; 
but  civilization  and  refinement  have  been  but  as  a  spot  upon 
the  face  of  the  earth,  while  ignorance,  superstition,  oppression, 
and  barbarism  have  ruled  the  world  from  the  remotest  period 
of  antiquity  to  the  present  time.  With  the  exception  of  the 
Roman  empire,  all  the  great  empires  of  antiquity  were  limited 
to  that  portion  of  the  earth's  surface  which  extends  from  the 
Indus  to  the  Nile  and  the  Adriatic  sea,  and  from  the  borders 
of  Abyssinia  to  the  Danube  and  the  Caspian  sea ;  and  within 


NOTES.  189 

this  area  was  all  that  constituted  the  then  known  world.  Po 
ly  bins  was  born  about  the  year  203  B.C. ;  was  present  at  the 
taking  of  Carthage  by  Scipio ;  survived  the  capture  of  Corinth ; 
lived  82  years ;  was  a  man  of  extensive  information,  who  had 
travelled  much.  He  has  conveyed  to  us  the  extent  of  the  geo 
graphical  knowledge  of  the  ancients  at  the  period  of  time  in 
which  he  lived.  In  speaking  of  that  portion  of  the  earth  which 
was  then  known  to  be  inhabited,  he  says : — "  Now  this  consists 
of  three  separate  parts ;  Asia,  Africa,  and  Europe.  And  these 
are  bounded  by  the  Tanais,  the  Nile,  and  the  straits  of  the 
Pillars  of  Hercules.  Between  Tanais  and  the  Nile  lies  Asia ; 
Africa  lies  between  the  Nile  and  the  Pillars  of  Hercules ;  so 
that  these  two  countries  together  possess  all  the  space  from 
east  to  west,  on  the  southern  side  of  the  Mediterranean  sea. 
Opposite  to  these,  on  the  north  side  of  the  same  sea,  lies  Eu 
rope,  being  extended  also  without  any  interruption  from  east 
to  west.  The  greatest  and  most  considerable  part  of  it  is  that 
which  occupies  all  the  space  between  the  river  Tanais  and  Nar- 
bo,  which  last  place  is  situated  only  a  small  distance  west  of 
Marsalia,  and  those  mouths  by  which  the  Ehone  discharges 
itself  into  the  Sardinian  sea.  The  Gauls  possess  the  country 
from  Narbo  to  the  Pyrenean  mountains,  which  extend  in  one 
continued  chain  from  the  Mediterranean  sea  to  the  ocean. 
The  rest  of  Europe,  from  these  mountains  westward  to  the 
Pillars  of  Hercules,  is  bounded  partly  by  the  Mediterranean 
and  partly  by  the  ocean.  The  country  which  lies  along  the 
former,  as  far  as  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  is  called  Spain.  But 
that  which  is  washed  by  the  ocean,  having  been  but  lately  dis 
covered,  has  not  yet  obtained  any  settled  name.  But,  as  it  has 
never  yet  been  known  with  any  certainty  whether  Ethiopia, 
which  is  the  place  where  Asia  and  Africa  meet  together,  be  a 
continent  extending  to  the  south  or  whether  it  be  surrounded 
by  the  sea — so  these  parts  of  Europe,  likewise,  that  lie  between 
Narbo  and  the  Tanais,  towards  the  north,  have  hitherto  been 
quite  concealed  from  our  discoveries."  Such  was  the  greatest 
extent  of  the  knowledge  of  the  earth  possessed  by  the  ancients 
previous  to  the  death  of  Polybius,  or  120  years  B.C.  After  a 


190  NOTES. 

lapse  of  1500  years  from  that  tune,  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
sea  did  bound  the  west  of  Africa.  And  only  300  years  ago, 
the  earth  was  first  circumnavigated  by  Magellan.  And  yet 
down  to  the  latter  period,  not  more  than  half  of  Europe  could 
be  called  enlightened.  An  area  of  civilization  less  than  that 
of  the  ancients ! 

NOTE  15. 
There  the  rude  warrior  with  his  bloody  creed. 

The  loose  masses  of  mankind,  that,  without  laws,  agriculture, 
or  fixed  dwellings,  overspread  the  vast  central  regions  of  Asia, 
have  at  various  times  been  impelled  upon  the  domain  of  cul 
ture  and  civilization.  Two  principal  roads  connect  the  nations 
of  Tartary  with  those  of  the  west  and  south ;  the  one  into  Eu 
rope  along  the  sea  of  Azoph  and  northern  coast  of  the  Euxine ; 
the  other  into  Persia  across  the  interval  between  the  Bockha- 
rian  mountains  and  the  Caspian.  Four  times,  at  least,  within 
the  period  of  authentic  history,  the  Scythian  tribes  have  taken 
the  former  course,  and  poured  themselves  into  Europe.  The 
first  of  these  was  in  the  fourth  and  fifth  centuries,  when  the 
Roman  empire  fell  to  the  ground,  and  the  only  boundary  to 
barbarian  conquest  was  the  Atlantic  coast  upon  the  shores  of 
Portugal.  The  second  was  when  the  Hungarians,  in  the  tenth 
century,  extended  their  ravages  to  the  southern  provinces  of 
France.  The  third  was  when  an  attack  was  sustained  from 
the  Mongols  under  the  children  of  Zengis  at  the  same  period  as 
that  which  overwhelmed  Persia.  The  Russian  monarchy  was 
destroyed  in  this  invasion,  and  for  two  hundred  years  lay  pros 
trate  under  the  yoke  of  the  Tartars.  As  they  advanced,  Po 
land  and  Hungary  gave  little  opposition,  and  the  farthest  na 
tions  of  Europe  were  appalled  by  the  tempest.  But  the  ut 
most  points  of  their  western  invasion  were  the  cities  of  Lignitz 
in  Silesia  and  Neustadt  in  Austria.  In  the  fourth  and  last  ag 
gression  of  the  Tartars,  their  progress  in  Europe  was  hardly 
perceptible  ;  the  Mongols  of  Timur's  army  could  only  boast  the 


NOTES.  191 

destruction  of  Azoph,  and  the  pillage  of  some  Russian  provin 
ces.  TIMUR,  the  sovereign  of  these  Mongols,  and  the  founder  of 
their  second  dynasty,  which  has  been  more  permanent  and 
celebrated  than  that  of  Zengis,  like  former  conquerors,  TOGRAL 
BEK  and  ZENGIS,  chose  the  road  through  Persia  ;  and,  meeting 
with  little  opposition  from  the  disordered  governments  of  Asia, 
extended  his  empire  on  one  side  to  the  Syrian  coast,  while  on 
the  other  it  reached  to  the  heart  of  Hindostan. 


NOTE  16. 
There  the  proud  chief  that  rushed  from  Persia  on. 

Chosrou  Anushirvan  was  distinguished  for  his  uncommon 
wisdom  and  valor.  His  reign  extended  from  531  to  579.  Un 
der  him  the  Persian  empire  extended  from  the  Mediterranean 
to  the  Indus,  from  the  laxartes  to  Arabia  and  the  confines  of 
Egypt.  He  waged  successful  wars  with  the  Indians  and  Turks, 
with  Justinian  and  Tiberius,  and  the  Arabians.  Under  Chos 
rou  II.  the  Persian  power  reached  its  highest  pitch.  By  suc 
cessful  wars  he  extended  his  conquests  on  the  one  side  to 
Chalcedon,  on  the  other  over  Egypt  to  Lybia  and  Ethiopia, 
and  finally  to  Zemen.  But  the  fortune  of  war  was  suddenly 
changed  by  the  victorious  arms  of  the  emperor  Heraclius. 
Chosrou  lost  all  his  conquests,  and  was  made  prisoner  and  put 
to  death  by  his  own  son.  His  reign  extended  from  591  to  628. 

JNOTE    17. 

There  in  his  pride  the  prophet-warrior  trod. 

Of  all  the  revolutions  which  ever  had  a  permanent  influence 
upon  the  civil  history  of  mankind,  none  could  so  little  be  anti 
cipated  by  human  prudence  as  that  effected  by  the  religion  of 
the  Arabians.  If  we  consider  Mohamed  only*  as  a  military 
usurper,  there  is  nothing  more  explicable  or  more  analogous 
than  his  success.  But  as  the  author  of  a  religious  imposture 


192  NOTES. 

upon  which  he  had  the  boldness  to  found  a  scheme  of  universal 
dominion  which  his  followers  were  half  enabled  to  realize,  it  is 
a  curious  speculation  by  what  means  he  could  inspire  so  sin 
cere,  so  ardent,  so  energetic,  and  so  permanent  a  belief.  The 
causes  of  leading  importance  that  contributed  to  the  progress 
of  Mahomedanism,  were: — In  the  first  place,  their  just  and 
elevated  notions  of  the  Divine  nature,  and  of  moral  duties; 
next,  the  artful  incorporation  of  tenets,  usages,  and  traditions 
from  the  various  religions  that  existed  in  Arabia ;  and  thirdly, 
the  extensive  application  of  the  precepts  in  the  Koran  to  all 
legal  transactions,  and  all  the  business  of  life.  To  these  may 
be  added  its  indulgence  to  voluptuousness,  though  this  appears 
to  be  greatly  exaggerated.  The  people  of  Arabia,  a  race  of 
strong  passions  and  sanguinary  temper,  inured  to  habits  of 
pillage  and  murder,  found  in  the  laws  of  their  native  prophet 
not  a  license,  but  a  command  to  desolate  the  world,  and  the 
promise  of  all  that  their  glowing  imaginations  could  antici 
pate  of  paradise,  annexed  to  all  in  which  they  most  delighted 
upon  earth. 

NOTE  18. 

There  the  bold  Norman  and  the  gallant  Gaul, 
Kushed  forth  to  battle  at  their  Hermit's  call. 

The  third  crusade  was  undertaken  by  the  then  three  greatest 
sovereigns  of  Europe;  the  Emperor  Frederic  Barbarossa, 
Philip  Augustus,  and  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion. 

Even  before  the  violation  of  Palestine  by  the  Saracen  arms, 
it  had  been  a  prevailing  custom  among  the  Christians  of 
Europe  to  visit  these  scenes,  rendered  interesting  by  religion, 
in  obedience  to  the  prejudices  or  commands  of  superstition. 
For  awhile  the  Mahomedan  possessors  of  Jerusalem  permitted 
or  even  encouraged  a  devotion  which  they  found  lucrative. 
During  the  eleventh  century,  when  from  increasing  supersti 
tion,  and  some  peculiar  fancies,  the  pilgrims  were  more 
numerous  than  ever,  a  change  took  place  in  the  government  of 


NOTES.  193 

Palestine,  which  was  overrun  by  the  Turkish  hordes  from  the 
north.  These  barbarians  treated  the  visitors  of  Jerusalem  with 
such  ferocious  insolence,  that  when  the  indignities  they  en 
dured  became  known  throughout  Europe,  they  excited  a  keen 
sensation  of  resentment.  The  Hermit  of  Picardy,  roused  by 
witnessed  wrongs  and  imagined  visions,  journeyed  from  land 
to  land,  the  Apostle  of  a  Holy  War.  The  preaching  of  Peter 
was  powerfully  seconded  by  Urban  II.  Every  means  was 
used  to  rouse  an  epidemic  frenzy ;  the  remission  of  penance, 
the  absolution  of  all  sins,  and  the  assurance  of  eternal  felicity. 
False  miracles  and  fanatical  prophecies,  which  were  never  so 
frequent,  wrought  up  the  enthusiasm  to  a  still  higher  pitch. 
And  these  devotional  feelings  fell  in  with  every  motive  that 
could  influence  the  men  of  that  time  ;  with  curiosity,  restless 
ness,  the  love  of  license,  thirst  for  war,  emulation,  ambition. 
So  many  crimes  and  so  much  misery  have  seldom  been  ac 
cumulated  in  so  short  a  time  as  in  the  three  years  of  the  first 
expedition.  At  Jerusalem,  the  Christians  stained  the  consumma 
tion  of  their  triumph  with  the  most  atrocious  massacre ;  not 
limited  to  the  hour  of  resistance,  but  deliberately  renewed, 
even  after  a  famous  penitential  procession  to  the  Holy  Sepul 
chre.  It  was  the  penance,  commonly  imposed  upon  men  of 
rank  for  the  most  heinous  crimes,  to  serve  a  number  of  years 
under  the  banner  of  the  cross. 


NOTE  19. 

When  the  dark  storwa  that  ages  held  its  course, 
At  length  exhausted,  spent  its  furious  force. 

Under  Charlemagne,  the  free  proprietors  were  harassed 
with  endless  expeditions,  and  dragged  away  to  the  Black  Sea, 
or  the  banks  of  the  Drave.  Many  of  them  became  ecclesias 
tics,  to  avoid  military  conscription.  But  under  the  lax  govern 
ment  of  succeeding  times,  the  dukes  and  counts  were  at  liberty 
to  play  the  tyrant  in  their  several  territories,  of  which  they 
were  become  almost  the  sovereigns.  These  were  times  of  great 


194  NOTES. 

misery  to  the  people,  and  the  worst,  perhaps,  that  Europe  has 
ever  known. 

But  evils  still  more  terrible  than  these  were  the  lot  of  those 
nations  that  had  been  subdued  by  Charlemagne.  Though 
they  appear  to  us  little  better  than  ferocious  barbarians,  they 
were  exposed  to  the  assaults  of  tribes,  in  comparison  with 
which  they  must  be  deemed  humane  and  polished.  The  coasts 
of  Italy  were  continually  alarmed  by  the  Saracens  of  Africa, 
who  possessed  themselves  of  Sicily  and  Sardinia,  and  became 
masters  of  the  Mediterranean.  Between  827  and  878,  they 
twiee  insulted  and  ravaged  the  territory  of  Rome ;  and  in 
the  tenth  century,  settled  a  piratical  colony  near  the  maritime 
Alps. 

Much  more  formidable  were  the  foes  by  whom  Germany  was 
assailed.  The  Sclavouians,  whose  language  is  still  spoken 
throughout  the  half  of  Europe,  occupied  the  countries  of  Bo 
hemia,  Poland,  and  Pannonia.  But  at  the  end  of  the  ninth 
century,  a  Tartar  tribe,  the  Hungarians,  overspread  that  coun 
try,  which  has  since  borne  their  name,  and  brought  dreadful 
reverses  upon  Germany.  All  Italy,  all  Germany,  and  the 
south  of  France,  felt  the  scourge ;  till  Henry  the  Towler  and 
Otho  the  Great  drove  them  back  within  their  own  limits. 

If  any  enemies  could  be  more  destructive  than  these  Hunga 
rians,  they  were  the  pirates  of  the  north,  the  Normans  and  Danes. 
In  787,  they  began  to  infest  England  ;  soon  afterwards,  they 
ravaged  the  coasts  of  Franco,  but  were  repelled  by  Charle 
magne.  But  in  888,  they  laid  siege  to  Paris,  and  committed 
the  most  ruinous  devastations  on  the  neighboring  country.  The 
rich  monasteries  that  had  stood  unharmed  amid  the  havoc  of 
Christian  war,  were  overwhelmed  in  the  storm.  At  length 
Charles  the  Simple,  in  918,  ceded  a  great  province  to  them, 
which  has  derived  from  them  the  name  of  Normandy.  See 
also  Notes  12,  13,  15. 


NOTES.  195 

NOTE  20. 

Colleagned  with  princes,  and  upheld  by  law, 
It  forced  submission  where  it  failed  to  awe ; 
And  conquered  nations,  'neath  its  tyrant  sway, 
Saw  freedom  perish,  reason's  self  decay. 

Louis  IX.  governed  France  for  nearly  half  a  century,  and 
raised  the  influence  of  the  monarchy  to  a  much  higher  pitch 
than  the  most  ambitious  of  his  predecessors.  But  his  principal 
weakness  was  superstition.  No  one  was  ever  more  impressed 
with  a  belief  in  the  duty  of  exterminating  all  enemies  to  his 
own  faith.  With  these  he  thought  no  layman  ought  to  risk 
himself  in  the  perilous  ways  of  reasoning,  but  to  make  answer 
with  his  sword,  as  stoutly  as  a  strong  arm  and  a  fiery  zeal 
could  carry  that  argument.  He  suffered  a  hypocritical  monk 
to  establish  a  tribunal  at  Paris  for  the  suppression  of  heresy, 
where  many  innocent  persons  suffered  death. 

About  the  middle  of  the  twelfth  century,  certain  religious 
opinions,  exceedingly  adverse  to  those  of  the  Church,  began  to 
spread  over  Languedoc.  Those  who  bore  them,  bore  the 
name  of  Albigeois,  though  they  were  in  no  degree  peculiar  to 
the  district  of  Albi.  These  opinions  made  continual  progress ; 
till  Innocent  III.,  in  1198,  despatched  commissaries,  the  seeds 
of  the  Inquisition,  with  ample  powers  both  to  investigate  and  to 
chastise.  Upon  the  assassination  of  one  of  the  inquisitors, 
Innocent  published  a  crusade,  both  against  the  Count  of  Tou 
louse,  and  his  subjects.  A  prodigious  number  of  knights,  led 
partly  by  ecclesiastics,  and  partly  by  some  of  the  first  barons 
of  France,  undertook  this  enterprise.  It  was  prosecuted  with 
every  atrocious  barbarity  which  superstition,  the  master  of 
crimes,  could  inspire.  Languedoc,  a  country  for  that  age 
flourishing  and  civilized,  was  laid  waste  by  these  desolators, 
her  cities  burned,  her  inhabitants  swept  away  by  fire  and  the 
sword.  At  the  storming  of  Beziers,  15,000,  or  according  to 
some  narrations,  60,000  persons  were  put  to  the  sword  ;  not  a 
living  soul  escaped.  It  was  here  that  a  Cistercian  monk,  who 


196  NOTES. 

led  on  the  Crusaders,  answered  the  inquiry,  how  the  Catholics 
were  to  be  distinguished  from  the  heretics  ?  "  Kill  them  all ! 
God  will  know  his  own." 

NOTE  21. 

And  thus  by  intrigue,  and  by  subtle  art 
She  rose  to  power,  and  her  lion's  part. 

It  ought  always  to  be  remembered  that  ecclesiastical,  and 
not  merely  papal,  encroachments  are  what  civil  governments, 
and  the  laity  in  general,  have  had  to  resist.  The  latter  rose 
out  of  the  former,  and  perhaps  were  in  some  respects  less 
objectionable.  But  the  true  enemy  is  what  are  called  high 
church  principles,  be  they  maintained  by  a  pope,  a  bishop,  or 
a  presbyter. 

The  ninth  century  was  the  age  of  the  bishops,  as  the  eleventh 
and  twelfth  were  of  the  popes.  It  seemed  as  if  Europe  was 
about  to  pass  under  as  absolute  dominion  of  the  hierarchy  as 
had  been  exercised  by  the  priesthood  of  ancient  Egypt,  or  the 
druids  of  Gaul. 

At  the  irruption  of  the  northern  invaders  into  the  Roman 
empire  they  found  the  clergy  already  endowed  with  extensive 
possessions.  Passing  rapidly  from  a  condition  of  distress  and 
persecution  to  the  summit  of  prosperity,  the  church  degene 
rated  as  rapidly  from  her  ancient  purity,  and  forfeited  the 
respect  of  future  ages  in  the  same  proportion  as  she  acquired 
the  blind  veneration  of  her  own.  The  devotion  of  the  conquer 
ing  nations,  as  it  was  less  enlightened  than  that  of  the  subjects 
of  the  empire,  so  was  it  still  more  munificent.  They  left, 
indeed,  the  worship  of  Hesus  and  Taranis  in  their  forests ;  but 
they  retained  the  elementary  principles  of  that  and  of  all  bar 
barous  idolatry,  a  superstitious  reverence  for  the  priesthood, 
and  a  confidence  in  the  efficacy  of  gifts  to  expiate  offences. 
Many  of  the  peculiar  and  prominent  characteristics  in  the  faith 
and  discipline  of  these  ages  appear  to  have  been  either  intro 
duced  or  sedulously  promoted  for  purposes  of  sordid  fraud.  To 
those  purposes  conspired  the  veneration  for  relics,  the  worship 


NOTES.  197 

of  images,  the  idolatry  of  the  saints  and  martyrs ;  but,  above 
all,  the  doctrine  of  purgatory,  and  masses  for  the  relief  of  the 
dead.  In  imitation  of  the  Jewish  law  the  payment  of  tithes 
was  recommended  and  enjoined.  These,  originally  confined  to 
predial  or  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  were  extended,  about  the 
year  1200,  to  every  species  of  profit,  and  to  the  wages  of  every 
kind  of  labor. 

The  payment  of  tithes  was  first  enjoined  by  the  canons  of  a 
provincial  council  in  France,  near  the  end  of  the  sixth  century. 
From  the  ninth  to  the  end  of  the  twelfth,  or  even  later,  it  was 
continually  enforced  by  similar  authority.  Most  of  the  ser 
mons  preached  about  the  eighth  century  inculcate  this  as  a 
duty,  and  even  seem  to  place  the  summit  of  Christian  perfection 
in  its  performance. 

The  persons  as  well  as  the  estates  of  ecclesiastics  were 
secure  from  arbitrary  taxation  in  all  the  kingdoms  founded 
upon  the  ruins  of  the  empire.  The  first  eminent  instance  of  a 
general  tax  required  from  the  clergy  was  the  famous  Saladin 
tithe ;  a  tenth  of  all  movable  estate  imposed  by  the  kings  of 
France  and  England  upon  all  their  subjects,  with  the  consent  of 
their  great  councils  of  prelates  and  barons,  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  their  intended  crusade.  Innocent  III.  imposed,  in 
1199,  upon  the  whole  church,  a  tribute  of  one  fortieth  of 
movable  estate,  to  be  paid  to  his  own  collectors ;  but  strictly 
pledging  himself  that  the  money  should  only  be  applied  to  the 
purposes  of  a  crusade.  This  crusade  ended  in  the  capture  of 
Constantinople.  The  word  had  lost  much  of  its  original  mean 
ing,  or  rather  that  meaning  had  been  extended  by  ambition 
and  bigotry.  Gregory  IX.,  quarrelling  with  the  Emperor 
Frederic  concerning  his  temporal  principality,  preached 
a  crusade  against  him,  and  taxed  the  church  of  England  to 
carry  it  on.  After  some  opposition  the  bishops  submitted ;  and 
from  that  time  no  bounds  were  set  to  the  rapacity  of  papal 
exactions.  These  gross  invasions  of  ecclesiastical  property  pro 
duced  a  general  disaffection  towards  the  court  of  Rome.  The 
reproach  of  venality  and  avarice  had  been  confined  in  earlier 
ages  to  particular  instances  not  affecting  the  bulk  of  the 


198  NOTES. 

-- 

Catholic  church.  But  pillaged  upon  every  slight  pretence, 
without  law,  and  without  redress,  the  clergy  canae  to  regard 
their  once  paternal  monarch  as  an  arbitrary  oppressor.  All 
writers  of  the  thirteenth  and  following  centuries  complain  in 
terms  of  unmeasured  indignation,  and  seem  almost  ready  to 
reform  the  general  abuses  of  the  church.  They  distinguish, 
however,  clearly  enough,  between  abuses  which  oppressed 
them  and  those  which  it  was  their  interest  to  preserve,  nor  had 
the  least  intention  of  waiving  their  own  immunities  and 
authority. 

The  acquisition  of  wealth  by  the  church  was  hardly  so 
remarkable,  and  scarcely  contributed  so  much  to  her  greatness, 
as  those  innovations  upon  the  ordinary  course  of  justice  which 
fell  under  the  head  of  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  and  immunity. 

The  bishops  alone  were  acquainted  with  the  art  of  writing, 
and  they  were  intrusted  with  political  correspondence,  and 
with  the  framing  of  the  laws.  They  alone  knew  the  elements 
of  a  few  sciences ;  and  the  education  of  the  royal  families 
devolved  upon  them  as  a  necessary  duty.  As  captive  Greece 
is  said  to  have  subdued  her  Roman  conqueror,  so  Rome,  in  her 
own  turn  of_  servitude,  cast  the  fetters  of  a  moral  captivity  upon 
the  fierce  invaders  of  the  north. 


NOTE  22. 

A  higher  law  within  their  realms  arise 

That  thrones  could  shackle,  and  their  threats  despise. 

Excommunication  was  originally  nothing  more  in  appearance 
than  the  exercise  of  the  right  which  every  society  claims — the 
expulsion  of  refractory  members  from  its  body.  Gradually,  as 
the  church  become  more  powerful  and  more  imperious,  excom 
munications  were  issued  upon  every  provocation,  rather  as  a 
weapon  of  ecclesiastical  warfare  than  with  regard  to  its  original 
intention.  Everywhere  the  excommunicated  were  debarred 
a  regular  sepulture.  They  were  to  be  shunned,  like  men 
infected  with  leprosy,  by  their  servants,  their  friends,  and  their 


NOTES.  199 

families.  In  some  instances  a  bier  was  set  before  the  door  of 
an  excommunicated  person,  and  stones  were  thrown  at  his 
windows.  But  as  excommunication,  which  attacked  only  one, 
and  perhaps  a  hardened  sinner,  was  not  always  efficacious,  the 
church  had  recourse  to  a  more  comprehensive  measure.  For 
the  offence  of  a  nobleman,  she  put  a  county ;  for  that  of  a 
prince,  his  entire  kingdom  under  an  "interdict,  or  suspension  of 
religious  offices.  No  stretch  of  her  tyranny  was,  perhaps,  so 
outrageous  as  this.  During  an  interdict  the  churches  were 
closed,  the  bells  were  silent,  the  dead  uuburied,  no  rite  but 
those  of  baptism  and  extreme  unction  performed.  The  penalty 
fell  upon  those  who  had  neither  partaken  nor  could  have 
prevented  the  offence  ;  and  the  offence  was  often  but  a  private 
dispute  in  which  the  pride  of  a  pope  or  a  bishop  had  been 
wounded.  This  was  the  mainspring  of  the  machinery  which 
the  clergy  set  in  motion ;  the  lever  by  which  they  moved  the 
world.  From  the  moment  that  these  interdicts  and  excommu 
nications  had  been  tried,  the  powers  of  the  earth  might  be  said 
to  have  existed  only  by  sufferance. 

The  noonday  of  papal  dominion  extends  from  the  pontificate 
of  Innocent  III.,  inclusively,  to  that  of  Boniface  VIII,  or 
through  the  thirteenth  century.  Rome  inspired,  during  this 
age,  all  the  terror  of  her  ancient  name.  She  was  once  more 
the  mistress  of  the  world,  and  kings  were  her  vassals.  This 
general  supremacy  derived  material  support  from  the  promul 
gation  of  the  canon  law.  Next  to  the  canon  law  may  be  reck 
oned  the  institution  of  the  mendicant  orders  among  those 
circumstances  which  principally  contributed  to  the  aggrandize 
ment  of  Rome  ;  as  did  also  the  pope's  prerogative  of  dispensing 
with  ecclesiastical  ordinances.  The  most  important  and  mis 
chievous  species  of  dispensation  was  from  the  observance  of 
promissory  oaths.  Two  principles  are  laid  down  in  the 
decretals;  that  an  oath  disadvantageous  to  the  church  is  not 
binding ;  and  that  one  extorted  by  force  was  of  slight  obliga 
tion,  and  might  be  annulled  by  ecclesiastical  authority.  The 
first  of  these  maxims  gave  a  most  unlimited  privilege  to  the 
popes  of  breaking  all  faith  of  treaties  which  thwarted  their 


200  NOTES. 

interest  or  passion — a  privilege  which  they  continually  exer 
cised  ;  the  second  was  equally  convenient  to  princes  weary  of 
observing  engagements  towards  their  subjects  or  their  neigh 
bors.  But  the  period  when  the  spirit  of  papal  usurpation  was 
most  strikingly  displayed  was  the  pontificate  of  Innocent  III. 
In  each  of  the  three  leading  objects  which  Koine  had  pursued, 
independent  sovereignty,  supremacy  over  the  Christian  church, 
control  over  the  princes  of  the  earth,  it  was  the  fortune  of  this 
pontiff  to  conquer.  He  says,  "  As  the  sun  and  the  moon  are 
placed  in  the  firmament,  the  greater  as  the  light  of  the  day,  and 
the  lesser,  of  the  night,  thus  are  there  two  powers  in  the 
church :  the  pontifical  which,  as  having  charge  of  the  soul?,  is 
the  greater,  and  the  regal,  which  is  the  lesser,  and  to  which  the 
bodies  of  men  only  are  trusted."  He  declares  the  pope's  imme 
diate  authority  to  examine,  confirm,  anoint,  crown,  and  conse 
crate  the  elect  emperor,  provided  he  shall  be  worthy ;  or  to 
reject  him,  if  rendered  unfit  by  great  crimes ;  in  default  of 
election  to  supply  the  vacancy ;  or,  in  the  event  of  equal  suf 
frages,  to  bestow  the  empire  upon  any  one  at  his  discretion. 
Boniface,  in  one  bull,  declares  the  church  is  one  body,  and  has 
one  head.  Under  its  command  are  two  swords,  the  one  spiri 
tual  and  the  other  temporal ;  that  to  be  used  by  the  supreme 
pontiff  himself,  this  by  kings  and  soldiers,  by  his  license,  and  at 
his  will.  But  the  lesser  sword  must  be  subject  to  the  greater, 
and  the  temporal  to  the  spiritual  authority.  He  concludes  by 
declaring  the  subjection  of  every  human  being  to  the  see  of 
Rome  to  be  an  article  of  necessary  faith.  In  another  decree  he 
declares  that  by  divine  permission  he  rules  the  world. 

NOTE  23. 
Till  vice  engendered  brought  its  fatal  foes. 

After  that  enormous  privilege  which  the  Roman  pontiffs 
assumed,  of  disposing  of  crowns,  and  of  releasing  nations  from 
their  oaths  of  allegiance,  the  most  pernicious  to  society  was 
that  of  absolving  individuals  from  the  ties  of  moral  duty.  This 


NOTES.  201 

dangerous  power,  or  one  equivalent  to  it,  the  pope  claimed  as 
the  successor  of  St.  Peter,  and  the  keeper  of  the  spiritual  trea 
sury  of  the  church,  supposed  to  contain  the  superabounding 
good  works  of  the  saints,  together  with  the  infinite  merits  of 
Jesus  Christ.  Out  of  the  inexhaustible  storehoxise  of  supera 
bundant  merit,  his  holiness  might  retail  at  pleasure  portions  to 
those  who  were  deficient  He  assumed  and  directly  exercised 
the  right  of  pardoning  sins ;  which  was,  in  other  words,  grant 
ing  permission  to  commit  them.  Dispensations  were  frequently 
granted  even  before  the  commission'  of  a  sin.  The  influence  of 
such  indulgences  upon  morals  may  be  easily  imagined,  espe 
cially  in  ages  when  superstition  had  silenced  the  voice  of  con 
science,  and  reason  was  bewildered  in  Gothic  darkness ;  when 
the  church  had  everywhere  provided  sanctuaries  which  not 
only  screened  from  the  arm  of  the  civil  magistrate  persons 
guilty  of  the  greatest  enormities,  but  often  enabled  them  to 
live  in  affluence.  A  man  could  purchase  for  a  shilling  an 
indulgence  for  the  most  enormous  and  unheard  of  crimes,  and 
by  it  b«  restored  to  that  innocence  and  purity  which  he  pos 
sessed  at  baptism,  so  that,  when  he  should  die,  the  gates  of 
punishment  would  be  shut,  and  the  gates  of  the  paradise  of 
delight  be  opened.  The  sale  of  indulgences  in  Germany  were 
publicly  retailed  in  alehouses,  and  the  produce  of  particular 
districts  farmed  out  in  the  manner  of  a  toll  or  custom.  Luther 
preached  against  indulgences  and  other  abuses,  and  appealed 
to  reason  and  scripture  for  the  truth  of  his  arguments.  From 
abuses  he  proceeded  to  usurpations;  from  usurpations  to 
errors;  and  from  one  error  to  another  till  the  whole  fabric  of 
the  Romish  church  began  to  totter.  Being  excommunicated, 
he  declaimed  against  the  tyranny  and  usurpations  of  the  court 
of  Rome  with  greater  vehemence  than  ever,  exhorted  all 
Christian  princes  to  shake  off  such  an  ignominious  yoke,  and 
boasted  of  his  own  happiness  in  being  marked  out  as  the  object 
of  ecclesiastical  indignation,  because  he  had  ventured  to  assert 
the  rights  of  religion  and  the  MENTAL  LIBERTY  OF  MANKIND. 
Zwinglius,  a  canon  of  Zurich,  advanced  with  more  daring  and 
rapid  steps  to  overturn  the  whole  fabric  of  the  established 
9 


202  NOTES. 

religion;    and  the  pope's  supremacy  was  soon  denied  in  the 
greater  part  of  Switzerland. 

Henry  VIII.,  having  been  educated  in  a  superstitious  vene 
ration  for  the  Holy  See,  dreaded  the  reproach  of  heresy,  and 
abhorred  all  alliance  with  the  Lutherans,  the  chief  opponents 
of  the  papal  power,  because  Luther,  their  apostle,  had  handled 
him  roughly  in  an  answer  to  his  book  in  defence  of  the  Romish 
communion.  But  having  failed  in  obtaining  from  Clement  VII. 
a  divorce  from  Catharine,  he  resolved  to  administer  ecclesiasti 
cal  affairs  without  having  further  recourse  to  Rome.  He 
ordered  a  parliament,  together  with  a  convocation,  to  meet,  in 
which  he  was  acknowledged  the  Protector  and  Supreme  Head 
of  the  Church  and  Clergy  of  England.  Cranmer,  archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  annulled,  soon  after,  his  marriage  with  Catha 
rine.  But  the  pope,  enraged,  pronounced  the  marriage  valid, 
and  declared  the  king  excommunicated.  The  rupture  with 
England  was  thus  rendered  final.  The  English  parliament 
assembled  soon  after  this  decision  of  the  court  of  Rome,  and 
conferred  on  the  king  the  title  of  "The  only  supreme  Head  of 
the  Church  upon  earth."  But  England,  thus  released  from  the 
oppressive  jurisdiction  of  the  pope,  was  far  from  enjoying  reli 
gious  freedom.  Liberty  of  conscience  was,  if  possible,  more 
confined  than  ever.  He  prescribed  his  own  dogmas  as  articles 
of  religious  faith,  and  all  who  differed  from  him  were  equally 
the  objects  of  his  vengeance.  Although  he  punished  both 
Protestants  and  Catholics^  his  most  dangerous  enemies,  he  was 
sensible,  were  the  zealous  adherents  to  the  ancient  religion. 
He  therefore  resolved  to  suppress  the  monasteries  as  so  many 
nurseries  of  rebellion  as  well  as  of  idleness,  superstition,  and 
folly ;  and  to  put  himself  in  possession  of  their  ample  revenues. 
Commissioners  appointed  to  examine  all  religious  houses 
brought  reports  of  such  frightful  disorders,  lewdness,  igno 
rance,  priestcraft,  and  unnatural  lusts,  as  filled  the  nation  with 
horror  against  institutions  held  sacred  by  their  ancestors,  and 
lately  the  objects  of  most  profound  veneration.  Three  hun 
dred  and  seventy-six  of  the  lesser  monasteries  were  at  once 
suppressed,  and  their  revenues  granted  to  the  king.  This  dis- 


NOTES.  203 

solution  of  the  lesser  monasteries,  and  the  imminent  danger  of 
the  rest,  bred  discontent  among  the  people.  The  Koman  reli 
gion,  suited  to  vulgar  capacities,  took  hold  of  the  multitude  by 
powerful  motives :  they  were  interested  for  the  souls  of  their 
forefathers,  which  they  believed  must  now  lie  during  many 
ages  in  the  torments  of  purgatory,  for  want  of  masses  to  relieve 
them.  The  expelled  monks  wandered  about  the  country,  en 
couraging  these  prejudices  to  rouse  the  populace  to  rebellion. 
But  by  prudent  measures  tranquillity  was  restored  with  little 
effusion  of  blood ;  and  the  better  to  reconcile  the  minds  of  the 
people  to  this  innovation,  the  impostures  of  the  monks  were 
zealously  brought  to  light.  Among  the  sacred  repositories  of 
convents  were  found  the  parings  of  St.  Edmund's  toes ;  some 
coals  that  roasted  St.  Lawrence  ;  the  girdle  of  the  blessed  Vir 
gin,  shown  in  eleven  different  places ;  two  or  three  heads  of 
St.  Ursula;  and  part  of  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury's  shirt;  a 
miraculous  crucifix,  the  eyes,  lips,  and  head  of  the  image  of 
which  moved  on  the  approach  of  its  votaries.  The  springs  and 
wheels  by  which  it  had  been  secretly  moved  were  shown  to 
the  whole  people.  The  shrine  of  St.  Thomas  a  Becket,  com 
monly  called  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury,  was  destroyed. 
So  superstitious  was  the  veneration  for  this  saint,  that  it 
appeared,  in  one  year,  not  a  penny  had  been  offered  at  God's 
altar ;  at  the  Virgin's  only  four  pounds,  one  shilling,  and  eight- 
pence;  but  at  that  of  St.  Thomas  nine  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds,  six  shillings,  and  threepence. 

NOTE  24. 
The  first  faint  gleam  of  buried  reason  broke, 

Many  ages  elapsed  during  which  no  remarkable  instance 
appears  of  a  popular  deviation  from  the  prescribed  line  of 
belief.  But  from  the  twelfth  century  an  inundation  of  heresy 
broke  in  upon  the  church,  which  no  persecution  was  able  tho 
roughly  to  repress,  until  it  finally  overspread  half  the  surface 
of  Europe.  From  the  very  invectives  of  their  enemies,  and 


204  NOTES. 

the  acts  of  the  Inquisition,  it  is  manifest  that  almost  every 
shade  of  heterodoxy  was  found  among  these  dissidents,  till  it 
vanished  in  a  simple  protestation  against  the  wealth  and 
tyranny  of  the  clergy. 

The  ecclesiastical  history  of  the  thirteenth  and  fourteenth 
centuries  teems  with  new  sectaries  and  schismatics,  various  in 
their  aberrations  of  opinion,  but  all  concurring  in  detestation 
of  the  established  church.  Fostered  by  the  general  ill-will 
towards  the  church,  the  principles  of  "Wickliffe  made  vast  pro 
gress  in  England ;  and,  unlike  those  of  earlier  sectaries,  were 
embraced  by  men  of  rank  and  civil  influence.  From  England 
the  spirit  of  religious  innovation  was  propagated  in  Bohemia, 
where  John  Huss,  without  embracing  all  the  doctrinal  system 
of  Wickliffe,  but  exciting  greater  attention  by  his  constancy 
and  sufferings,  as  well  as  by  the  memorable  war  which  his 
ashes  kindled,  was  even  more  eminently  the  precursor  of  the 
Reformation.  The  tendencies  of  religious  dissent  in  the  four 
ages  before  the  Reformation  appear  to  have  generally  conduced 
towards  the  moral  improvement  of  mankind. 

The  sensible  decline  of  the  papacy  is  to  be  dated  from  the 
pontificate  of  Boniface  VIII,  who  strained  its  authority  to  a 
higher  pitch  than  any  of  his  predecessors.  About  the  begin 
ning  of  the  fourteenth  century  (1305),  the  papal  chair  was 
removed  to  Avignon,  where  it  remained  for  more  than  seventy 
years.  About  the  middle  of  this  century  (1338)  Germany  be- 
eame  emancipated  from  the  thraldom  of  the  Roman  see,  and 
some  of  those  who  were  actively  engaged  in  the  transactions 
that  accomplished  this,  took  more  extensive  views,  and  assailed 
the  whole  edifice  of  temporal  power  which  the  Roman  see  had 
been  constructing  for  more  than  two  centuries.  Several  men 
of  learning  investigated  the  foundations  of  this  superstructure, 
and  exposed  their  insufficiency.  Literature  also  began  to  assert 
her  birthright  of  ministering  to  liberty  and  truth.  These  oppo 
nents  at  last  taught  mankind  to  scrutinize  what  had  been 
received  with  implicit  respect,  and  prepared  the  way  for  more 
philosophical  discussions.  About  this  time,  also,  a  part  of  the 
Franciscan  order  rose  up  against  the  rule  of  the  church,  pro- 


NOTES.  205 

claimed  aloud  its  corruptions;  and  fixed  the  name  of  Antichrist 
upon  the  papacy — all  which  events  had  a  material  tendency 
both  to  depress  the  temporal  power  of  the  papacy,  and  to  pave 
the  way  for  the  Reformation. 

y  .NOTE  25. 

When  bigot  zeal,  and  faith,  with  passion  blind, 
Essayed  to  conquer  and  control  mankind. 

When  Edward  VI.  died,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  Mary  suc 
ceeded  to  the  throne,  an  entire  change  took  place  both  in  men 
and  measures.  They  who  had  languished  in  confinement  were 
elevated  to  the  helm  of  power,  and  intrusted  with  the  govern 
ment  of  the  church,  as  well  as  of  the  state.  The  Catholic 
bishops  were  restored  to  their  sees,  and  admitted  to  the 
queen's  favor  and  confidence;  while  the  most  eminent  Pro 
testant  prelates  and  zealous  reformers  were  thrown  into 
prison.  A  Parliament  was  procured  entirely  conformable  to 
the  sentiments  of  the  court.  All  the  statutes  of  Edward  VI, 
respecting  religion,  were  repealed.  The  queen  sent  assurances 
to  the  Pope  of  her  earnest  desire  to  reconcile  herself  and 
kingdom  to  the  Holy  See,  and  requested  that  Cardinal  Pole 
might  be  appointed  legate  for  the  purpose  of  performing  that 
pious  office.  Upon  Pole's  arrival  in  England,  with  legatine 
power  from  the  Pope,  both  houses  of  Parliament  voted  an  ad 
dress  to  Mary  and  Philip,  acknowledging  that  the  nation  had 
been  guilty  of  a  most  horrible  defection  from  the  true  church ; 
declaring  their  resolution  to  repeal  all  laws  enacted  to  the 
prejudice  of  the  Romish  religion  ;  and  praying  their  Majesties, 
happily  unaffected  with  that  criminal  schism,  to  intercede  with 
the  Holy  Father  for  the  absolution  and  forgiveness  of  their 
penitent  subjects.  TJie  legate,  in  the  name  of  his  Holiness, 
gave  the  parliament  and  kingdom  absolution,  freed  them  from 
all  ecclesiastical  censure,  and  received  them  again  into  the 
bosom  of  the  church. 

In  consequence  of  this  reconciliation,  the  punishment  by 


206  NOTES. 

fire  was  rigorously  employed  against  the  most  eminent  re 
formers,  and  many  persons  of  all  ages,  sexes,Aand  conditions, 
were  committed  to  the  flames.  It  would  be  endless  to  enume 
rate  all  the  cruelties  practised  in  England  during  this  bigoted 
reign ;  near  three  hundred  persons  having  been  brought  to  the 
stake,  in  the  first  rage  of  persecution.  Human  nature  ap 
pears  on  no  occasion  so  detestable,  and  at  the  same  time  so 
absurd,  as  in  these  religious  horrors  which  sink  mankind  below 
infernal  spirits  in  wickedness,  and  beneath  brutes  in  folly ;  and 
prove  that  no  human  depravity  can  equal  revenge  and  cruelty 
inflamed  by  theological  hate. 

NOTE  26. 

Still  raged  the  storm,  while  persecution's  howl 
Was  heard  afar. 

Philip,  immediately  after  concluding  the  treaty  of  Chateau 
Cambresis  (1559),  commenced  a  furious  persecution  against  the 
Protestants  in  Spain,  Italy,  and  the  Low  Countries.  That  violent 
spirit  of  bigotry  and  tyranny  by  which  he  was  actuated,  gave 
new  edge  even  to  the  cruelty  of  priests  and  inquisitions.  In 
his  unrelenting  zeal  for  orthodoxy  he  spared  neither  age,  sex, 
nor  condition.  He  appeared  with  an  inflexible  countenance  at 
the  most  barbarous  executions  ;  and  he  issued  rigorous  orders 
for  the  prosecution  of  heretics,  even  in  his  American  dominions. 
The  limits  of  the  world  seemed  only  enlarged  to  extend  human 
misery.  Having  founded  his  deliberate  tyranny  on  maxims  of 
civil  policy,  as  well  as  on  principles  of  religion,  he  made  it 
evident  to  all  his  subjects  that  there  was  no  means  of  escaping 
the  severity  of  his  vengeance,  except  by  the  most  abject  com 
pliance,  or  obstinate  resistance.  And  by  thus  placing  himself 
at  the  head  of  the  Catholic  party,  the  daJirmined  champion  of 
the  Romish  church,  he  everywhere  converted  the  zealots  of  the 
ancient  faith  into  partisans  of  Spanish  greatness. 

In  Scotland  the  leaders  of  the  congregations  became  absolute 
masters  of  the  kingdom.  They  established  the  Presbyterian 


NOTES.  207 

form  of  worship,  abolished  the  Papal  jurisdiction  in  Scotland, 
and  prohibited  the  exercise  of  religious  worship  according  to 
the  rites  of  the  Romish  church,  under  the  penalty  of  forfeiture 
of  goods  for  the  first  act  of  disobedience,  banishment  for  the 
second,  and  death  for  the  third.  They  committed  furious 
devastation  on  the  sacred  buildings,  which '  they  considered  as 
dangerous  relics  of  idolatry  ;  laying  waste  everything  venerable 
and  magnificent  that  had  escaped  the  gjorm  of  popular  insur 
rection.  Abbeys,  cathedrals,  churches,  libraries,  records,  and 
even  the  sepulchres  of  the  dead  perished  in  one  common  ruin. 

In  France,  an  affray  between  the  retinue  of  the  Duke  of 
Guise  and  some  Protestants,  in  which  sixty  of  the  latter  were 
slain,  threw  that  whole  kingdom  into  commotion.  The  Pro 
testants  were  alarmed  at  this  massacre,  and  assembled  in 
arms  under  Conde,  Coligny,  and  Audelot,  their  most  distin 
guished  leaders.  Fourteen  armies  were  levied  and  put  in 
motion  in  different  parts  of  France.  Each  province,  each  city, 
each  family  was  distracted  by  intestine  rage  and  animosity. 
The  father  was  divided  against  the  son,  brother  against 
brother ;  and  women  themselves,  sacrificing  their  humanity  as 
well  as  their  timidity  to  the  religious  fury,  distinguished  them 
selves  by  acts  of  valor  and  cruelty.  Wherever  the  Protestants 
prevailed,  the  images  were  broken,  the  altars  pillaged,  the 
churches  demolished,  the  monasteries  consumed  with  fire ;  and 
where  success  attended  the  Catholics  they  burned  the  bibles, 
re-baptized  the  infants,  and  forced  married  persons  to  pass 
anew  through  the  ceremony.  Plunder,  desolation,  and  blood 
shed  attended  equally  the  triumph  of  both  parties.  Such  was 
the  condition  of  France  in  1562,  and  such  it  continued  to  be 
to  the  end  of  the  century,  during  which  period  coalitions  were 
formed  for  the  most  fiendish  purposes ;  and  base  assassinations 
and  cold-blooded  massacres  were  committed  without  remorse. 
A  Catholic  league,  impiously  called  the  Holy  League,  was 
formed  for  the  extermination, of  the  Huguenots  in  France,  the 
Protestants  in  the  Low  Countries,  and  the  extinction  of  the 
Reformed  religion  throughout  all  Europe.  The  massacre  on  St. 


208  NOTES. 

Bartholomew's  day  occurred,  in  which  ten  thousand  persons  of 
the  Protestant  party  perished  in  Paris.  A  like  carnage  ensued 
at  Rouen,  Lyons,  Orleans,  and  several  other  cities.  Sixty 
thousand  Protestants  are  supposed  to  have  been  massacred  in 
different  parts  of  France.  At  Rome,  and  in  Spain,  the  [massa 
cre  of  St.  Bartholomew  was  the  subject  of  public  rejoicing ; 
and  solemn  thanks  were  returned  to  God  for  its  success,  under 
the  name  of  the  triumph  of  the  Church  Militant. 

The  holy  assassination,  so  peculiar  to  this  period,  proceeded 
from  the  fanatical  application  of  certain  passages  in  the  Old 
Testament  to  the  conjunctures  of  the  times.  Enthusiasm 
taught  both  Catholics  and  Protestants  to  consider  themselves 
as  the  peculiar  favorites  of  heaven,  and  as  professing  the  only 
true  religion ;  and  while  impelled  by  their  own  vindictive 
passions,  by  personal  animosity  or  party  zeal,  to  the  commis 
sion  of  murder,  they  imagined  they  heard  the  voice  of  God 
commanding  them  to  execute  vengeance  on  his  and  their 


NOTE  27. 

From  India's  shore  to  Andes'  towering  steep 
Mankind  were  taught  to  tremble  and  to  weep. 

Nearly  at  the  same  period  of  time  that  Columbus  was  guid 
ing  Spain  to  America,  De  Gama  was  guiding  Portugal  to  India  ; 
and  about  the  same  time  that  Cortes  was  bearing  in  bloody 
triumph  the  standard  of  his  country  to  the  capital  of  Mexico, 
Albuquerque  was  successfully  directing  the  terrors  of  the  Portu 
guese  power  against  the  potentates  of  India  and  Arabia.  All 
of  which  events  happened  between  the  years  1491  and  1515. 


NOTE  28. 

For  what  thy  strength  on  Chalons'  sanguine  plain 
Heaped  high  the  piles,  and  hecatombs  of  slain. 

It  is  supposed  that  it  was  near  Chalonb  that  Charles  Martel 


NOTES.  209 

overthrew  the  power  of  the  Saracens,  when  they  had  carried 
the  terror  of  their  arms  from  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  to  the 
banks  of  the  Loire,  and  threatened  the  conquest  of  all  Chris 
tendom. 

NOTE  29. 

Still  regal  rule  from  force  superior  free 
Bowed  nations  down  in  abject  slavery. 

Henry  the  Eighth  was,  in  power  and  dignity,  the  third  prince 
of  the  period  in  which  he  lived.  His  friendship  was  eagerly 
courted  by  Charles  the  Fifth  and  Francis  the  First.  He  was 
the  natural  guardian  of  the  liberties  of  Europe.  He  knew  it  to 
be  his  interest  to  keep  the  balance  even  between  the  contend 
ing  powers ;  but  he  was  seldom  able  to  reduce  his  ideas  to 
practice ;  he  was  governed  by  caprice  more  than  principle ; 
the  passions  of  the  man  were  ever  an  overmatch  for  the 
maxims  of  the  king.  Vanity  and  resentment  were  the  great 
springs  of  all  his  actions.  He  changed  the  national  religion, 
and,  in  a  great  measure,  the  spirit  of  the  laws  of  England.  He 
perpetrated  the  most  enormous  violence  against  the  first  men 
in  the  kingdom ;  he  loaded  the  people  with  oppressive  taxes, 
and  he  pillaged  them  by  loans.  The  parliament  was  the  prime 
minister  of  his  tyrannical  administration.  It  authorized  his 
oppressive  taxes,  and  absolved  him  from  the  payment  of  his 
debts ;  it  gave  its  sanction  to  his  most  despotic  and  sanguinary 
measures — measures  that  would  have  aroused  the  spirit  of  a 
free  nation  to  assert  the  rights  of  humanity  and  give  law  to  the 
tyrant's  power ;  or  have  aroused  some  soul  more  noble  than 
the  rest  to  rid  the  world  of  such  a  scourge  by  carrying  ven 
geance  to  his  heart. 

NOTE  30. 

Thus  armed  with  strength  of  heaven,  earth,  and  hell, 
Oppression  rose,  the  Ilierarch  that  fell. 

Nothing  so   strongly  distinguished  the  Church  of  England 
9* 


210  NOTES. 

from  other  churches,  as  the  relation  in  which  she  stood  to  the 
monarchy.  The  king  was  her  head.  What  Henry  and  his 
counsellors  meant  by  the  supremacy,  was  certainly  nothing  less 
than  the  whole  power  of  the  keys.  The  king  was  to  be  the 
pope  of  his  kingdom,  the  vicar  of  God,  the  expositor  of  catho 
lic  verity,  the  channel  of  sacramental  graces.  He  arrogated  to 
himself  the  right  of  deciding  dogmatically  what  was  orthodox 
doctrine  and  what  was  heresy,  of  drawing  up  and  imposing 
confessions  of  faith,  and  of  giving  religious  instruction  to  his 
people.  He  proclaimed  that  all  jurisdiction,  spiritual  as  well 
as  temporal,  was  derived  from  him  alone,  and  that  it  was  in 
his  power  to  confer  the  episcopal  character,  and  to  take  it 
away.  He  actually  ordered  his  seal  to  be  put  to  commissions 
by  which  bishops  were  appointed,  who  were  to  exercise  their 
functions  during  his  royal  pleasure.  According  to  this  system, 
as  expounded  by  Cranmer,  the  king  was  the  spiritual  as  well 
as  the  temporal  chief  of  the  nation.  As  he  appointed  civil 
officers,  so  he  appointed  divines  of  various  ranks.  The  king — 
such  was  the  opinion  of  Cranmer — might,  in  virtue  of  authority 
derived  from  God,  make  a  priest ;  and  the  priest  so  made 
needed  no  ordination  whatever. 

Elizabeth  was  intrusted  by  parliament  with  the  office  of  re 
straining  and  punishing  heresy  and  every  sort  of  ecclesiastical 
abuse,  and  was  permitted  to  delegate  her  authority  to  commis 
sioners.  The  bishops  were  little  more  than  her  ministers.  By 
the  royal  authority  alone  her  prelates  were  appointed.  By 
the  royal  authority  alone  her  convocations  were  summoned, 
regulated,  prorogued,  and  dissolved.  Without  the  royal  sanc 
tion  the  canons  of  the  English  Church  had  no  force.  One  of 
the  articles  of  faith  was,  that  without  the  royal  consent  no 
ecclesiastical  council  could  lawfully  assemble.  From  all  judi 
catures  of  the  English  Church  an  appeal  lay,  in  the  last  resort, 
to  the  sovereign,  even  when  .the  question  was  whether  an 
opinion  ought  to  be  accounted  heretical,  or  whether  the  ad 
ministration  of  a  sacrament  h-'id  been  valid. 


NOTES.  211 

NOTE  81. 

The  subtle  tyrants  that  upheld  his  creed 
And  due  submission  unto  kingly  sway, 
With  solemn  farces,  taught  unto  the  lay. 

It  was  during  the  reign  of  James  I.,  at  the  very  time  when  a 
republican  spirit  began  to  manifest  itself  strongly  in  parlia 
ment  and  in  the  country,  that  those  strange  theories  which 
Filmer  afterwards  formed  into  a  system,  and  which  became  the 
badge  of  the  most  violent  class  of  Tories  and  High-churchmen, 
first  emerged  into  notice. 

It  was  gravely  maintained  that  the  Supreme  Being  regarded 
hereditary  monarchy,  as  opposed  to  other  forms  of  govern 
ment,  with  peculiar  favor  ;  that  the  rule  of  succession  in  order 
of  primogeniture  was  a  divine  institution,  anterior  to  the 
Christian  and  even  to  the  Mosaic  dispensations ;  that  no  human 
power,  not  even  that  of  the  whole  legislature,  no  length  of 
adverse  possession,  though  it  extended  to  ten  centuries,  could 
deprive  the  legitimate  prince  of  his  right ;  that  his  authority 
was  necessarily  always  despotic ;  that  the  laws  by  which,  in 
England  and  in  other  countries,  the  prerogative  was  limited, 
were  to  be  regarded  merely  as  concessions  which  the  sove 
reign  had  freely  made  and  might  at  his  pleasure  resume  ;  and 
that  any  treaty  into  which  a  king  might  enter  with  his  people 
was  merely  a  declaration  of  his  present  intentions,  and  not  a 
contract  of  which  the  performance  could  be  demanded. 

NOTE  32. 

Thus  rose  again,  but  in  a  different  form, 
The  subtle  power  that  produced  the  storm. 

Upon  the  death  of  Henry  VIII.  (1547),  Edward  VI.  being 
only  nine  years  of  age,  the  Duke  of  Somerset  was  invested  with 
regal  power  under  the  title  of  Protector.  The  reformers  having 
become  by  far  the  most  numerous  and  respectable  body  of  men 
in  the  kingdom,  Somerset,  now  freed  from  restraint,  di.^nvered 


212  NOTES. 

his  intentions  of  correcting  all  abuses  in  the  ancient  religion, 
and  of  adopting  still  more  of  the  Protestant  innovations.  In 
his  schemes  for  advancing  the  Reformation,  he  had  always 
recourse  to  the  counsels  of  Cranmer. 

Thomas  Cranmer  was  the  representative  of  both  the  parties 
which  at  that  time  needed  each  other's  assistance.  He  was  at 
once  a  divine  and  a  statesman.  In  his  character  of  divine  he 
was  perfectly  ready  to  go  as  far  in  the  way  of  change  as  any 
Swiss  or  Scotch  reformer.  In  his  character  of  statesman  he 
was  desirous  of  preserving  that  organization  which  had  during 
many  ages  admirably  suited  the  purposes  of  the  bishops  of 
Rome,  and  might  be  expected  to  serve  equally  well  the  pur 
poses  of  the  English  kings  and  their  ministers.  His  temper 
and  his  understanding  eminently  fitted  him  to  act  as  mediator. 
Saintly  in  his  professions,  unscrupulous  in  his  dealings,  zealous 
for  nothing,  bold  in  speculation,  a  coward  and  a  timeserver  in 
action,  a  placable  enemy  and  a  lukewarm  friend,  he  was  in 
every  way  qualified  to  arrange  the  terms  of  the  coalition 
between  the  religious  and  the  worldly  enemies  of  Popery. 
From  their  counsels  resulted  the  establishment  of  the  Protest 
ant  religion  in  England.  The  fabric  of  the  secular  hierarchy 
was  left  and  maintained  entire ;  and  the  distinctive  habits  of 
the  clergy,  according  to  their  different  ranks,  were  continued. 
The  form  of  worship  was  established  by  parliament  in  all  the 
churches,  and  ordered  to  be  observed  in  all  the  rite's  and  cere- 


NOTE  33. 

'Twas  royal  rule  from  priestly  thraldom  free, 
That  in  that  strife  had  gained  its  liberty. 

No  secular  prince  had  as  yet  embraced  the  new  opinions;  no 
change  in  the  established  forms  of  worship  had  been  introduced, 
nor  any  encroachments  made  upon  the  possessions  or  jurisdic 
tion  of  the  clergy.  A  deep  impression,  however,  was  made  upon 
the  minds  of  the  people :  their  reverence  for  ancient  institution 


NOTES.  213 

and  doctrines  was  shaken ;  and  the  materials  were  already 
scattered  which  produced  the  conflagration  that  afterwards 
spread  over  all  Europe.  Such  was  the  state  of  the  Reformation 
about  the  year  1520,  But  by  the  tenth  year  from  this  period, 
or  1530,  most  of  the  princes  of  Germany  had  not  only  embraced 
the  opinions  of  Luther,  and  established  in  their  territories  that 
form  of  worship  which  he  approved,  but  had  entirely  suppressed 
the  rites  of  the  Romish  church.  Many  of  the  free  cities  had 
also  imitated  their  example.  Almo&t  one  half  of  the  Germanic 
body  had  revolted  from  the  papal  see.  Such  was  the  state  of 
religious  matters  when  Charles  resolved  upon  coercive  mea 
sures,  and  issued  a  decree  condemning  most  of  the  peculiar 
tenets  held  by  t£e  Protestants,  and  prohibiting  any  one  to  tole 
rate  those  who  taught  them.  In  consequence  of  this  decree, 
the  Protestant  princes,  who  considered  it  as  a  prelude  to  the 
most  violent  persecutions,  assembled  at  Smalkalde,  and  con 
cluded  a  league  of  mutual  defence.  Francis  I.  and  Henry  VIII. 
secretly  agreed  to  support  them ;  and  Charles,  by  this  event 
and  Soliman's  invasion  of  his  dominions,  was  for  the  present 
prevented  from  attempting  the  extirpation  of  heresy  by  the 
sword.  But  in  1546,  Charles  having  concluded  a  disadvan 
tageous  peace  with  Francis  L,  and  a  dishonorable  truce  with 
Boliman  II.,  he  entered  into  an  alliance  with  Paul  III.  for  the 
extirpation  of  heresy,  or,  in  other  words,  for  opposing  the  liber 
ties  of  Germany,  under  pretence  of  maintaining  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  Holy  See.  The  pope  assembled  a  general  council  at 
Trent,  in  order  to  regulate  the  affairs  of  religion.  But  the  Pro 
testants  refused  to  acknowledge  its  legality ;  for  though  they 
had  appealed  to  a  general  council,  they  were  sensible  that  this 
was  convoked  to  condemn,  not  to  examine  their  opinions ;  and 
the  substance  of  Charles's  treaty  with  the  pope  coming  to  light, 
they  saw  that  not  only  the  suppression  of  the  reformed  religion, 
but  the  extinction  of  the  German  liberties  was  intended,  and 
immediately  had  recourse  to  arms.  Though  they  applied  in 
vain  for  assistance  to  the  republic  of  Venice,  the  Swiss  cantons, 
and  the  kings  of  France  and  England,  yet  they  found  at  home 
no  difficulty  in  bringing  a  sufficient  force  into  the  field.  But 


214  NOTES. 

the  emperor  having  allured,  by  the  promise  of  liberty  of  con 
science,  and  the  prospect  of  further  advantages,  some  of  the 
Protestant  princes  voluntarily  to  enter  into  his  service,  he  was 
enabled  to  crush  the  confederacy.  Having  defeated  and  taken 
prisoner  Frederick,  elector  of  Saxony,  and  treacherously  allured 
into  his  power  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse,  the  two  greatest  princes 
of  the  empire,  and  having  humbled  all  whom  he  had  not 
attached  to  his  interest,  Charles  proceeded  to  exercise  the 
rights  of  a  conqueror.  Having  taken  preliminary  steps  to  inti 
midate  its  members,  he  summoned  a  diet  to  meet  at  Augsburg, 
"  in  order  to  compose  finally  the  controversies  with  regard  to 
religion ;"  but  the  jealousy  and  interference  of  the  pope  pre 
vented  from  being  recognised  the  authority  of  the  general 
council  which  he  had  taken  so  much  pains  to  procure.  Paul 
III.  dying  from  affliction  and  old  age,  Cardinal  de  Monte  suc 
ceeded  to  the  papacy  (1550),  and  assumed  the  name  of  Julius 
III. ;  and  willing  to  assume  to  himself  the  merit  of  a  measure 
become  necessary,  and  also  to  ingratiate  himself  with  Charles, 
who  earnestly  solicited  that  a  council  might  be  called,  he  pre 
tended  to  deliberate,  and  afterwards  issued  a  bull  for  the  coun 
cil  to  reassemble  at  Trent.  In  this  council  the  prelates  pro 
ceeded  to  determine  the  great  points  in  controversy.  The 
Protestants  were  prohibited  to  teach  any  doctrine  contrary  to 
its  decrees,  or  to  the  tenets  of  the  Romish  church;  and  on 
refusing  compliance,  their  pastors  were  ejected  and  exiled ; 
such  magistrates  as  had  distinguished  themselves  by  their  adher 
ence  to  the  new  opinions  were  dismissed;  their  offices  were 
filled  with  the  most  bigoted  of  their  adversaries;  the  people 
were  compelled  to  attend  the  ministrations  of  priests  whom 
they  regarded  as  idolators,  and  to  submit  to  the  authority  of 
rulers  whom  they  detested  as  usurpers.  These  tyrannical 
measures  undeceived  Maurice  of  Saxony,  and  other  Lutheran 
princes,  who,  allured  by  the  promise  of  liberty  of  conscience 
and  the  prospect  of  further  advantages,  had  assisted  the  emperor 
in  his  war  against  the  confederates  of  Smalkalde ;  and  he  who 
had  perfidiously  stripped  his  nearest  relation  and  benefactor  of 
his  hereditary  dominions,  and  been  chiefly  instrumental  in 


NOTES.  215 

bringing  to  the  brink  of  ruin  the  civil  and  religious  liberties  of 
his  country,  became  the  deliverer  of  Germany.  Having  secured 
the  protection  of  the  French  monarch,  Maurice  proceeded  with 
great  confidence,  but  equal  caution,  to  execute  his  plan. 
Having  assembled  his  army,  he  published  that  he  took  up  arms 
to  secure  the  Protestant  religion,  to  maintain  the  German  con 
stitution,  and  to  deliver  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse  from  the  misery 
of  a  long  and  unjust  imprisonment.  The  King  of  France,  in 
his  own  name,  issued  a  manifesto  in  which  he  styled  himself 
the  Protector  of  the  liberties  of  Germany  and  its  captive 
princes.  Charles  was  in  no  condition  to  oppose  such  formida 
ble  enemies :  he  was  forced  to  fly  as  a  fugitive,  and  finally  to 
submit  to  the  treaty  of  Passau,  which  set  limits  to  his  authority, 
overthrew  the  vast  fabric  which  he  had  employed  so  many 
years  in  erecting,  and  established  the  Protestant  church  in 
Germany  upon  a  firm  and  secure  basis  (1552). 

NOTE  34. 

Which  knowledge  lighted  and  invention  gave 
A  strength  too  potent,  to  submit  a  slave. 

About  the  middle  of  the  fourteenth  century,  or  perhaps  a 
little  sooner,  an  ardent  zeal  for  the  restoration  of  ancient  learn 
ing  began  to  display  itself.  About  the  same  time  paper  began 
to  be  used  in  Europe.  We  owe  the  first  intelligible  text  of 
the  Latin  classics  to  Petrarch,  Poggio,  and  their  contemporary 
laborers  in  this  work  for  a  hundred  years  before  the  invention 
of  printing.  The  first  to  lead  the  way  in  restoring  also  Grecian 
learning  to  Europe,  were  the  same  men  that  revived  the 
kindred  muses  of  Latium,  Petrarch  and  Boccaccio.  What 
Petrarch  began  in  the  fourteenth  century  was  carried  on  by  a 
new  generation  with  unabating  industry.  The  whole  lives  of 
Italian  scholars,  in  the  fifteenth  century,  were  devoted  to  the 
recovery  of  manuscripts,  and  the  revival  of  philology.  But, 
while  the  learned  of  Italy  were  eagerly  exploring  their  recent 
acquisitions  of  manuscripts,  a  few  obscure  Germans  had  gradu- 


216  NOTES. 

ally  perfected  the  most  important  discovery  recorded  in  the 
annals  of  mankind — the  invention  of  printing.  The  first  book 
that  issued  from  the  presses  of  Faust  and  his  associates  at 
Mentz,  was  an  edition  of  the  Vulgate,  supposed  to  have  been 
printed  between  1450  and  1455.  Classics  on  an  extensive 
scale  were  published  at  Venice  in  1470 ;  and  during  the  next 
ten  years  a  multitude  of  editions  were  published  in  various 
parts  of  Italy.  They  were  like  a  new  mechanical  power  in 
machinery,  and  gave  a  wonderful  accelerated  impulse  to  the 
intellectual  cultivation  of  mankind. 

NOTE  35. 

Then  sects  and  factions,  bound  by  mutual  ties, 
Colleagued  together  and  became  allies, 
And  dared  to  differ  from  established  faith. 

Many  persons  in  England  who  were  strongly  attached  to  the 
reform  opinions  had,  during  the  cruelties  of  Queen  Mary's 
reign,  taken  refuge  in  Switzerland  and  Germany.  They  had, 
during  some  years,  been  accustomed  to  a  more  simple 
worship,  and  to  a  more  democratical  form  of  Church  govern 
ment  than  England  had  yet  seen.  They  were  little  disposed 
to  submit,  in  matters  of  faith,  to  any  human  authority.  They 
had  recently,  in  reliance  on  their  own  interpretations  of  the 
scriptures,  'risen  up  against  a  church  strong  in  immemorial 
antiquity  and  catholic  consent.  It  was  by  no  common  exer 
tion  of  intellectual  energy  that  they  had  thrown  off  the  yoke 
of  that  gorgeous  and  imperial  superstition  ;  and  it  was  vain  to 
expect  that  immediately  after  such  an  emancipation  they 
would  patiently  submit  to  a  new  spiritual  tyranny.  Long 
accustomed,  when  the  priest  lifted  up  the  host,  to  bow  down 
with  their  faces  to  the  earth  as  before  a  present  God,  they  had 
learned  to  treat  the  mass  as  an  idolatrous  mummery.  Long 
accustomed  to  regard  the  Pope  as  the  successor  of  the  chief  of 
the  apostles,  as  the  bearer  of  the  keys  of  earth  and  heaven,  they 
had  learned  to  regard  him  as  the  beast,  the  anti-Christ,  the 


NOTES.  217 

man  of  sin.  It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  they  would  imme 
diately  transfer  to  an  upstart  authority  the  homage  which  they 
had  withdrawn  from  the  Vatican ;  that  they  would  submit 
their  private  judgment  to  the  authority  of  a  church  founded  on 
private  judgment  alone  ;  that  they  would  be  afraid  to  dissent 
from  teachers  who  themselves  had  to  dissent  from  what  had 
lately  been  the  universal  faith  of  western  Christendom.  It  is 
easy  to  conceive  the  indignation  which  must  have  been  felt  by 
bold  and  inquisitive  spirits,  glorying  in  newly  acquired  free 
dom,  when  an  institution  younger  by  many  years  than  them 
selves,  an  institution  which  had,  under  their  own  eyes,  gradu 
ally  received  its  form  from  the  passions  and  interests  of  a  court, 
began  to  mimic  the  lofty  style  of  Rome. 

Since  these  men  could  not  be  convinced,  it  was  determined 
that  they  should  be  persecuted.  Persecution  produced  its 
natural  effects  on  them.  It  found  them  a  sect,  it  made  them  a 
faction;  a  faction  that  finally  subverted  the  monarchy  and 
established  a  commonwealth  upon  its  ruins. 


NOTE  36. 
Till  the  Hun  and  Albanian  roll  back  the  dark  flood. 

Hunniades  was  one  of  the  most  considerable  captains  of  his 
age  ;  he  contended  with  and  defeated  the  Turks  in  1442,  before 
Belgrade,  and  in  Transylvania.  He  accompanied  Uladislaus  to 
the  battle  of  Varna  in  1444,  in  which  the  Christian  army  was 
entirely  defeated,  with  the  death  of  the  king.  He  drew  off  the 
remainder  of  the  forces,  and,  by  his  vigor,  put  himself  in  a  con 
dition*  to  act  offensively  with  success  against  the  Turks.  He 
was  declared  Governor  of  Hungary,  for  the  minor  King  Ladis- 
laus.  For  a  considerable  time  he  was  the  terror  of  the  Turks, 
but  was  at  length  defeated  by  them  in  1448.  In  1456  he 
defeated  a  Turkish  fleet  on  the  Danube,  repulsed  Mahomet  II. 
with  great  slaughter  from  Belgrade,  and  compelled  him  to 
raise  its  siege.  Not  long  after  this  glorious  success  he  was 


218  NOTES. 

seized  with  a  fever,  of  which  he  died  at  Zemlin,  in  Sept.  1456, 
regarded  as  the  hero  of  Christendom. 

Scanderbeg,  born  in  1404,  was  son  of  John  Castroit,  Prince 
of  Albania.  He  was  sent  by  his  father  as  a  hostage  to  Amu- 
rath  II.,  and  was  educated  in  the  Mahomedan  religion  ;  and 
when  only  eighteen  years  of  age,  was  placed  at  the  head  of  a 
body  of  troops.  After  the  death  of  his  father  in  1432,  he 
formed  the  design  of  possessing  himself  of  his  principality,  and 
for  that  purpose  made  a  secret'  alliance  with  Hunniades.  He 
defeated  the  Turks  with  great  loss,  recovered  Croia,  the  capital 
of  Albania,  ascended  the  throne  of  his  father,  and  renounced 
the  Mahomedan  religion.  He  sustained  himself  against  Amu- 
rath  II.,  and  for  eleven  years  against  Mahomet  II.,  his  successor, 
who,  in  1461,  proposed  terms  of  peace  to  him,  which  were 
accepted.  He  died  in  1467,  at  the  age  of  63  ;  and  his  death 
was  soon  followed  by  the  submission  of  Albania  to  the  Turkish 
dominion.  He  was  considered  by  Mahomet  II.  as  his  most 
formidable  enemy,  and  was,  undoubtedly,  one  of  the  greatest 
warriors  of  his  time  ;  his  enterprise  and  military  skill  place 
him  among  the  ablest  and  most  successful  of  generals.  The 
Turks  gave  a  singular  proof  of  their  admiration  of  his  valor  ; 
for  when  they  took  Lissa,  the  place  at  which  he  had  been 
interred,  they  dug  up  his  bones  with  great  respect,  and  made 
use  of  them  as  relics,  set  in  gold  and  silver,  to  be  worn  about 
their  persons  as  amulets. 

M 


37.] 
By  Messenia's  chieftain  great. 

After  -Messenia  had  been  subjugated  by  Sparta,  and  had  for 
forty  years  endured  her  yoke  embittered  by  every  circum 
stance  of  insult  and  oppression,  Aristomenes  arose  as  the 
avenger  of  his  country.  His  character  combines  all  the  elements 
of  goodness  and  greatness,  in  a  degree  almost  unparalleled 
among  Grecian  heroes.  Inexhaustible  in  resources,  unconquer- 


NOTES.  219 

able  in  spirit,  and  resolutely  persevering  through  every  extreme 
of  hopeless  disaster,  an  ardent  patriot  and  a  formidable  war 
rior,  he  yet  was  formed  to  find  his  happiness  in  peace ;  and 
after  passing  his  youth  under  oppression,  and  his  manhood  in 
war  against  a  cruel- enemy,  he  yet  retained  a  singular  gentle 
ness  of  nature. 


21-100m-2  '55 
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.General  Library 

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Berkeley 


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